HISTORY

OF

PRIJiCE EDWARD ISLAND,

Bv DUNCAN CAMPBELL,

AUTHOR OF A
"niSTOEY OF NOVA SCOTIA," ETC.

0 0 s a i ■:, ,» ^«''5<|jj^*-iy <- . ., 5 • o • • «

CHARLOTTETOWN:
BREMNER BROTHERS, 44 QUEEN STREET.

1875.

Entered according to Act of Parliament, in the year one thousand ei?ht
hundred and seventy-live, by Duncan Camphell, in the otlice of the
Minister of Agriculture aud Statistics of the Dominion of Canada.

T»*

PREFACE.

HE principal aim of the Author has been to produce a
[ History of Prince Edward Ishmd, ^\ iiich mi<rht chiim
aj^some degree of merit as to conciseness, accuracy, and
impartiality, from the period it became a British possession
until its recent union with the other confederated provinces
of British North America. With the view to secure these
ends, it was necessary that not only all available ]K)oks
and pamphlets relating to the island should be attentively
perused, and the correctness of th<'ir stateinonts tested ; but
that a vast mass of original papers, hitherto unpublished,
should ha carefully examined. Application having been
made to His Excellency Lord Dufferin, through Sir Robert
Hodgson, the Lieutenant-governor of the island, permission
■was granted to examine all the numerical despatches. This
task imposed an amount of laboi' which had not been
anticipated, and which seemed incompatible with the pro-
duction of so small a volume. The Author is aware that
there lies in the French aichives at Paris a large deposit
of interesting matter bearing on the history of the Maritime
Provinces, and it is to be hoped that it will soon be rendered
accessible to the English reader.

It was necessary that a considerable portion of the work
should deal with the Land Question. To its consideration
the Author came in comparative ignorance of the entire
subject, and therefore unprejudiced by ideas and associations

iv - pnErACE.

of wliich it mi^lit be iniDossible for a native of the island
entirely to divest liiniself. The soundness c>f the eonelusions
arrived at may be questioned ; but it can be truly said that
they have lot been reached without deliberate consideration,
and an anxious desire to arrive at the truth.

The Author desires to express iiis special ol)]i'j^ations for
valuable matter Jo Ilis Honor Sir IJobert IIodL''son, the
Honorable Judge Pope, Professor Ca\en, JMr. H«'nry Law-
son, the Honorable Judire Henslev, the Honoritble Mr.
Haviland, Mr. John Ings, lion. Francis L(Mi;^worth, Mr. J.
B. Cooper, Mr. Arthur DoW. Haszard, Mr. Donald Currie,
the Reverend Mr. McNeill, Mr. T. B. Aitkins, of Halifax,
Mr. John Ball, Mr. F. W. Hughes, the Reverend Dr.
Jenkins, Mr. Charles DesBrisay, Mr. J. W. Mori"ison, and
otliers too mimerous to mention.

The Honorable Judge Pope possesses rare and most
important documents connected with the island, without
which it would liave been impossible to produce a satis-
factory narrative, and which he at once courteously placed
at the temporary disposal of the Author, rendering further
service by the remarkable extent and accuracy of his in-
formation.

The Author has also to thank the People of Prince
Edward Island, especially, for the confidence reposed in
him, as proved by the fact of his having received, in the
course of a few weeks, orders for liis then unpublished work
to the number of more tlian two thousand seven hundred
copies, — confidence which he hopes an unp'-ejudiced peru-
sal of the book may, to some extent, justify.

Chahlottetown, October, 1875.

CONTEXTS.

c II A r T K i; I .

GeoKiapliieal position of the Islaii'!— Karly possession— Po])iilrttion in 1758
— Cession by Tieaty of Foni.iiiu'hk'.iu — Survey of Cai>t.iin Iloll-nd —
Ilollaml's tlesciiption of the I>lan(l — i'osition of Town sites — Jliinate —
Tlie Earl of Egnionl's sclienie of settlement — Proposoil tlivision of the
Island — Memorials of Kgniont — Decision of the British Government
respecting iljjniont's Scheme. PAOE I

CHAPTER II.

Determination of the ITonie Government to (lisi)ose of the whole Island —
The manner in whicli it was efl'ected — Comlitions on which jyrants were
made— Appointment of Wilter ratterson as Governor — Novel duties
imposed on him — Callbeck made i>risoiier by Americans — Arrival of
Hessian Trooi)S— Sale of Land in 1781 — Agitation in consequence — Com-
plaints against the Governor, and his tactics ii< defence — Governor super-
ceded, and Colonel Fanning appointed— Disputes between their— Charges
of immorality against Tatterson — His departure from the Island. . 18

CHAPTER III.

Proprietors indifferent to tiicir engagements— Kxtent to which settlement
was eflected — Complaints of the People of noiifiillilment of engagements-
Character of the Reply — The inllr.ence of the Proprietors with the Ilorae
Government — The Duke of Kent — Proposal in 1780 to name the Island Now
Ireland— The name adopted— Forniatioii of Light Infantry anil Volunteer
Horse — Immigiatiou of Higlilandeis — Memoir of General Fanning. . 49

CHAPTER IV.

Colonel F. W. DesBarres, successor to General Fanning— His character as
a Governor- Succeeded by Charles Douglas Smith— His character as dis-
played in his opening address — Proclamation of immunity from Pro-

VI CONTKNTS.

pvietory conditions— 0))])re.isivc nK-ar^uvps in rcyanl to Qnitrcntp— John
McCjJrt'gor, ShtMill— I'libli**- nit't't'iij,'s called in the Counties — Tyranny of
tho (jovcrnor exposed — Anival of Colonel Heady, and deiiaitiire of
Smith I'AiiK (il

CHAPTER V.

Governor Ready desires to povcrn constitutionally— Encrjretie legislation —
George Wright, Ailniinistrator — Cliangein tlieniodeof payingCustoudiouse
Officials — Fire in Mirainichi— I'etitions of lloman Catholics to he relieved
from i'ivil disal)llities — Proceedings of the Asse nlily touching the question
— Dispute hetween tlii; Council and Assembly — Calh )lic Kmancipation —
The Agricultural Society — Death of (ieorge the Fourth — Cobbett on I'rince
Edward Island — Colonel Rea<ly succeeded by A. W. Young— The Census
— Death of Governor Young— Diographical Sketch of him. . . 71

CIIArXER VI.

George Wright, Administrator— Court of Kschoat refused— Central Academy
— Severe Frost in September — Death of William the Fourth — Kducational
Condition of the Island— Forcible Resistance to Kent-payuig— Rebellion in
Canada — Able Rei)ort of Connuittee of Legislature on Land (^neslion — The
Coronation of Queen Victoria — Mechanics' Institute formed — Lord Durham
on Land Question — The formation of an i^xecutive, sei)arate from a Legis-
lative Council ordered — Mr. Cooper a delegate to Louilou. . . Si

CHAPTER VII.

Marriage of the Queen— Education in 1842--Fnindatlon-stoneof the Colonial
Building laid — The (iovernor withdraws his i)atronage from Public Insti-
tutions— Disi»ute between the Ciovernor and Mr. Pope — Flection dis-
turbances m Uelfast— The Currency Question — Responsible Government
discussed — Governor Huntley succeed d by Sir Donald Campbell — Earl
Greys reason for withholding Res|)onsible Government — The death of

-r Sir Donald Campbell — Ambrose Lane, Adniinistratoi- — Sir A. Bannerman,
Governor — Responsil)le Government introduced — Temperance movement

: — The loss of the "Fairy Queen''— Dissolution of the Assembly — (iov-
ernor Rannerman succeeded by Dominick Dalj- — The Worrell Estate
bought by the Government — J. Henry Ilaszavd perishes in the Ice Boat —
Census of 18.j5 — A loan wanted— The Imiierial Guaranty \)romised, but
not given — Resolutions praying for a Commission on tlie Land Question —
Charles Y'oung, Administrator — Biographical Sketch of Bishop McDonald
—Death of James Peake. . . .;.- 95

«•

- ij^>

CONTENTS. ^'1*

CHAPTER VIII.

Arrival of the Prince of Wiiles— His IJeoeption— Tlic Rtiti-li Colonial
SotMotary expresses cati'TartiDU witli tUv As-»MnltIv's jii(u-tT(lins?s in
regard to the Land C'l)n^nlis^i()n— The Ke|»<»»'t "'' t'"- CoiniuissionerH— Its
canliniil points pre>oiit»M|— Thi'ii- views wiih rciranl t* K^'hcat ami otiior
sul>jecls— Tiic <-a>e of tin- f.nyali-ts and Imliaiis. Ift-niaiks on tlic Com-
missioners' Hep<"t: its merits ami its dtlc its. J'lu' rvih incident to tho
Land (^nestion fundamentally atti ihiitalilc to tlic Home (;uvcrnnient—
Tlie Inimi^'rants dei'civcd— The misery citn>e(iuent un sucii deception—
The hnrden of correction laid on tlie wionj; ^ilouldel.s— V<dunteer Com-
])anies— (ieneral Censns— Dealli of Prince Albert— The Duke of Newcastle
and the Commissioners' Keport. I'MjE 128

CHAPTER IX.

Bill to make the Legislative Council elective— Change of flovornment— Ad-
dress to the (^iieen, cravin.i; to give e.iect to tiie Commissioners' Award —
A Review of recent Proceedings in regard to the Land (^le-tion— Tiie As-
scmljly willing to meet the views of Proprietors m regai<l to the appoint-
ment ol Commissioners— The Assembly and the Commissioners right,
and the Colonial .Secretary wrong--The l£ea>oii-why given— The rejection
of the Award nnroasonable— Delegates sent to England on the Land Qnes-
tiou— The Uesult 1J4

CHAPTER X.

James C. Pope and the KnUway— Assimilation of the Currency— Con-
federation—Conference in arlottetown— Speeches of Edward Whclan
and T. IL Ilaviland— Opposition to Confedeiation— Resolutions in the
Assembly— Offer of Terms to J. C. Pope— Further Proceedings— The
Question of Conlederation Resumed— Delegations to Ottawa— Messrs.
Haythorne and Laird— Messrs. Pope, Ilaviland, and Ilowlan— Jinal
Settlement of the Question 109

CHAPTER XI.

Biographical Sketches :— Bishop McEachern— Rev. Donald McDonald— Rev.
Dr. Kier— Hon. T. H. Ilaviland— Hon. E. Whelan— Hon. James Yeo—
Hon. George Coles— .James 1). llaszard 188

CHAPTER Xil.

Commercial Biaii«ties—Jmports— Exports— Revenue— Government Policy-
Fisheries— Educai ion— Maaufactmes—Cuarlott^itown-Consus of 17SI8. 202

#

■:4;

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

1'^

CHAPTER I.

Geoprraphical position of the Islanrl— Early iiospcpsion— Population in 1758
— Cession by Treaty of Fontainebleau— Survey of Capt:iin Holland —
Itollaufl's description of the Island — Tosition of Town sites — Climate —
The Earl of Ej^mont's scheme of settlement— Proposcfl divi:^ion of tho
Island— ^leniorials of Egmont — Decision of the British (Jovernment
respecting Eymoul's ijchenie.

RINCE EDWARD ISLAND la situated in tlie Gulf of
Stiiut Lawrence. It lies between 4G and 47 7' north
>^ latitude, and 62'^ and Gi*- 27' longitude wejjt, from
Greenwich. As viewed from the north-east, it presents the
form of a crescent. Its length, in a course through the
centre of the Island, is about one hundred and forty miles,
and its breadth, iii the .videst part, which is from Beacon
Point to East Point, towards its eastern extremity, thirty-
four miles. It is separated from Nova Scotia by the Strait
of Northumberland, which is onlv nine miles broad between
Cape Traverse and Cape Tormentine. From the I^sland of
Cape Breton it is distant twenty-seven miles, and from the
nearest point of Newfoundland one hundred and twenty-
live miles.

The Island was amongst the first discoveries of the cele-
brated navigator, Cabot, who named it Saint John, as in-
dicative of the day of i*^s discovery. Britain failing to lay
B

2 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

claim to it, ilie French afterwards assumed it as part of the
discoveries made by Verazani iu 1523. la 1GG3 it was
granted, with other Islands, by the Company of New France,
to the Sieur Doublet, a captain in the French navy, with
whom were associated two adventurers who established a
few fishing stations, but who did not reside permanently on
the island.

In the year 1713 Anne, the Queen of Great Britain, and
Louis XIV, the King of France, concluded the celebrated
treaty of Utrecht, by which Acadia and Newfoundland were
ceded to Great Britain. The fourteenth article of that
treaty provided that the French inhabitants of the ceded
territory should be at liberty to remove within a year to any
other place. Many of the Acadians, availing themselves of
this liberty, removed to the Island of Saint John, which was
then under French rule. Subsequently a French officer ,
who received his instructions from the Governor of Cape
Breton, resided with a gt.rrison of sixty men at Port la Joie
(Charlottetown).

A Frenchman who had visited the island in 1752 pub-
lished an account of it shortly afterwards. His report as
to the fertility of the soil, the quantity of game, aud the
productiveness of the fishery was extremely favorable, and
he expressed astonishment that with these advantages the
island should not have been more densely populated — its
inhabitants numbering only 1354.

The great fortress of Louisburg fell in 1745, but was
restored to the French in 1748. War Avas again declared
by Britain against France in 1756, and in 1758 Louisburg
again fell under the leadership of the gallant Wolfe. After
the reduction of the fortress several war ships were detached
to seize on the Island of Saint John ; an object which was
eflfected without difficulty. Mr. McGregor, in his account

THE FALL OF LOUISBURG AND QUEBEC. 8

of the island, says that the population was stated to be at
this time ten thousand, but an old Acadian living when he
wrote informed him that it could not have exceeded six
thousand. A little over four thousand seems to have been
the number of inhabitants at this period.* The expulsion
of the Acadiauc ^roxn. Nova Scotia took place in 1755, and
many of them ha\ iig escaped to the island in that year, its
population must have been nearly doubled by the influx
of fugitives.

The fall of Quebec followed that of Louisburg, and by
the treaty of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Cape Breton, the Island
of Saint John, and Canada were formally ceded to Great
Britain, Cape Breton and the Island of Saint John being
placed under the Government of Nova Scotia.

In the year 1764 the British Government resolved to have
a survey of North America executed, and with that view
the continent was divided into two districts, — a northern
and southern, — and a Surveyor General appointed for each,
to act under instructions from the Lords' Commissioners for
Trade and Plantations. Captain Samuel Holland was ap-
pointed to superintend the survey of the northern district,
which comprehended all the territory in North America
*' lying to the north of the Potowmack River, and of a line
drawn due west from the head of the main branch of that
river as far as His Majesty's dominions extend." Captain
Holland received his commission in March, and was in-
struc*3d to proceed immediately to Quebec, in order to make
arrangements for the survey. He was instructed to begin
with the Island of Saint John. The government vessel in
which Captain Holland had left sighted the Island of Cape

* The Rev. Mr. Sutherland, in his Geography, estimates the population at
about four thousand, which corresponds with the estimate of the writer.
See History of Nova Scotia, page 143.

4 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Breton on the eleventh of July, 1764. A thick fog having
come on, the vessel had approached too near to the land,
when the crew heard a musket shot, and the alarming cry
of breakers ahead, which had proceeded from a fishing boat.
The ship barely escaped the rocks. Contrary winds were
subsequently encountered, and Captain Holland resolved to
proceed in a rowing boat to Quebec. He accordingly left
the ship on the nineteenth of July, and arrived in Quebec on
the second of August. In Quebec Captain Holland met
Captain Dean, of the Mermaid, who had visited the Island
of Saint John during the summer, and who advised him to
take " all sorts of material and provisions with him, as there
was nothing left on the island but a detachment posted at
Fort Amherst, who were indifferently provided, and could
not furnish himself and his staff with lodgings." Captain
Holland arrived on the island in October, 1764. He de-
scribes Fort Amherst " as a poor stockaded redoubt, with
barracks scarcely sufficient to lodge the garrison, — the
houses near it having been pulled down to supply material
to build it." " I am obliged," he adds, *' to build winter
quarters for myself. I have chosen a spot in the Avoods, near
the sea shore, properly situated for making astronomical
observations, where I have put up an old frame of a barn,
which I have covered with what material I brought with
me, and some boards that we collected from the ruins of
some old houses. I fear that it will not be too comfortable."
The vessel in which Captain Holland was conveyed to North
^ America was called the Ganceaux, and had been fitted out
by the government with the view of aiding him in his pro-
fessional operations ; but on applying to Lieutenant Mowatt,
her commander, for boats and men, he was coolly told that
such aid could not — according to instructions — ^be granted.
Having complained to Lord Colville, then in command of

CAPTAIN Holland's correspondence. 5

the naval force in North America, instructions were at once
issued to Lieutenant Mowatt to give the required assistance ;
and Governor Wilmot instructed Captain Hill, tlie command-
ing officer on the island, to render all the assistance in his
power in forwarding tlie important service in which
Captain Holland was engaged.

In a letter addressed to the Earl of Hillsborough, Captain
Holland reports most favourably respecting the capabilities
of the island. He adds, " There are about thirty Acadian
families on tlie island, who are regarded as prisoners, and
kept on the same footing as those at Halifax. They are
extremely poor, and maintain themselves by their industry
in gardening, fishing, fowling, &c. The few remaining
houses in the different parts of the island are very bad, and
the quantity of cattle is but very inconsiderable." At Saint
Peter's, Captain Holland met an old acquaintance. Lieutenant
Burns, of the 45th Regiment, who had removed with his
family to the island, and had built a house and barn, and of
whom he writes to the Board of Trade very favorably.

The energy with which Captain Holland prosecuted the
survey is sufficiently proved by the fact that in October,
1765, he sent home by Mr. Robinson, one of his deputies,
plans of the island, as well as of the Magdalen Islands ;
also, a description of the Island, from which we shall quote
copiously as conveying the impressions of an acute and
reliable observer.

" The soil," says Captain Holland, " on the south side of
the island is a reddish clay, though in many places it is
sandy, particularly on the north coast. From the East
Point to Saint Peter's it is a greyish sand. The woods upon
this coast, from the East Point as far southward as Hills-
borough River, and to Bedford Bay on the west, were
entu'ely destroyed by fire about twenty-six years ago. It

6 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

was so extremely violent that all the fishing vessels at Saint
Peter's and Morell River, in Saint Peter's Bay, were
burned. In many parts round the island is a rough, steep
coast, from forty to fifty feet high, in some places a hundred,
composed of strata of soft red stone, which, when exposed
to the air for some time, becomes harder, and is not unfit for
building. Wherever this sort of coast is, it diminishes con-
siderably every year upon the breaking up of the frost,
which moulders away a great part of it. It may probably
be owing to this cause that the sea betwixt the island and
the Continent is frequently of a red hue, and for that reason
by many people called the red sea. The rivers are properly
sea creeks, the tide flowing up to the heads, where, gen-
erally, streams of fresh w^ater empty themselves. In most
parts of the island the Sarsaparilla Root is in great abund-
ance, and very good. The Mountain Shrub and Maiden
Hair are also pretty common, of whose leaves and berries
the Acadian settlers frequently make a kind of tea. The
ground is in general covered with strawberries and cran-
berries, in their different seasons, which are very good. In
those places which have been settled, and are still tolerably
cleared, is very good gi*ass, but a great part of the land
formerly cleared is so much overgrown with brush and
small wood that it would be extremely difficult to make it
fit for the plough. It may be proper to observe that very
few houses mentioned in the explanation of the Townships
are good for anything, and by no means tenantable, except
one or two at Saint Peter's, kept in repair by the officers,
and one kept by myself at Observation Cove."

After describing the kinds of Timber to be found on the
island. Captain Holland proceeds to say: "Port la Joie
(Charlottetown), Cardigan and Richmond Bays are without
dispute the only places where ships of burthen can safely

HOLLAND ON CITY SITES. 7

enter, aud consequently most proper to erect the principal
towns and settlements upon. In point of fishing, Riclimoud
Bay has much the advantage of situation, the fish being in
great plenty most part of the year, and close to the harbour.

"The capital, to be called Charlottetown, is proposed to be
built on a point of the harbour of Port la Joie, betwixt York
and Hillsborough Rivers, as being one of the best and
central parts of the island, and having the advantage of an
immediate and easy communication with the interior parts
by means of the three fine rivers of Hillsborough, York,
and Elliot. The ground designed for the town and fortifica-
lions is well situated upon a regular ascent from the water-
side. A fine rivulet will run through the town. A battery
or two some distance advanced will entirely command the
harbour, so that an enemy attempting to attack the town
cannot do so without great difficulty. Having passed the
battery at the entrance to the harbour, he must attempt a
passage up Hillsborough and York Rivers, the channels of
both which are intricate ; and the entrance of the respective
channels will be so near the tOAvn that a passage must be
attended with the greatest hazard. Should an enemy land
troops on either side the bay of Hillsborough, they must
still have the river of the same name on the east, or Elliot
or York rivers on the west to pass before they can eflTect
anything of consequence.

" As this side of the Island cannot have a fishery, it may
probably be thought expedient to indulge it with some par-
ticular privileges ; and as all the judicial and civil, as well
as a good part of the commercial business will be transacted
here, it will make it at least equally flouiishing with the
other county towns.

" Georgetown is recommended to be built on the point of
land called Cardigan Point, there being a good harbour for

8 HISTORY OF PHINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ships of any burthen on each side of Cardigan river on the
north, or on Montague river on the south side ; but the
latter — though a much narrower channel in coming in — is
preferable, as the bay for anchoring will be close by the
town immediately on entering the river, and going round
the Goose Neck — a long point of dry sand running half
over the river and forming one side of Albion Bay — the
place of anchorage. On the Goose Neck may be a pier,
•where goods may be shipped with great facility and con-
venience. The place proposed is so situated as to be easily
made secure, as well as the entrance into the two respective
harbours. There is a communication inland bv means of
Cardigan, Brudenell, and Montague rivers, from the top of
which last to the source of Orwell river, is not quite ten
miles ; and Orw^ell river, emptying itself into the great bay
of Hillsborough, makes a safe and short communication,
both in winter and summer, betwixt two of the county
towns.

" Princetown is proposed to be built on a most convenient
spot of ground as well for fishery as fortification. The site
is on a peninsula, having Darnley Basin on the north-
east, which is a convenient harbour for small vessels, and
where they may lie all winter. The town will have con-
venient ground for drying fish, and ships of burthen can
anchor near it in the bay. It can be fortified at little
expense ; some batteries and small works erected along the
shore would entirely secure it."

It is interesting to note what Captain Holland, writing
upwards of a century ago, says respecting the climate : —
" The time of the setting in of the frost in winter, and its
breaking up in the spring, is very uncertain. In general it
is observed that about October there usually begins to be
frost morning and evening, which gradually increases in

DEATH OF LIEUT. IIALDIMAN. 9

severity till about the middle of December, when it becomes
extremely sh.irp. At this time uorth-west wind, with small
sleet, seldom fails. In a little time the rivers on the island
are frozen up, and even the sea some distance from laud.
The ice soon becomes safe to travel on, as it is at least
twenty-two to thirty inches thick. The snow upon the
ground, and in the woods, is often a surprising depth,
and it is impossible to travel except on snow-shoes. The
Acadians now have recourse to little cabins or huts in the
woods, where they are screened from the violence of the
weather, and at the same time have the convenience of wood
for fuel. Here they liv^' on the fish they have cured in the
summer, and game which the}/ f/equently kill, as hares and
partridges, lynxes or wild cats, otters, martins, or musk
rats, — none of which they refuse to eat, as necessity presses
them. In the spring the rivers seldom break up till April,
and the snow is not entirely off the ground until the middle
of May. It ought to be observed that as Saint John is
fortunately not troubled with fogs, as are the neighboring
Islands of Cape Breton and Newfoundland, neither has it so
settled and constant a climate as Canada. Here are frequent
changes of weather, as rain, snow, hail, and hard frost."

On the completion of the -urvey of the Island of Saint
John, Captain Holland proceeded to prosecute that of Cape
Breton. Here he had the misfortune to lose his most
efficient deputy, Lieutenant Haldiman, who was drowned, by
falling through the ice on the 16th of December, 1765.
He was a Lieutenant, on half pay, when Captain Holland
engaged him, having served since the age of fifteen in
America. He was an excellent mathematician, and quite
an adept in making accurate astronomical observations,
' This excellent young man perished in the twenty-fourth year
of his age. Whilst Captain Holland was busy on the Island of

10 HISTORY. OF rRIN'CE EDWARD ISLAND.

Saint John, Ilakliman was detached to superintend the survey
of the Magdalen Ishinds. In the report sent hy Ilolhind to
the Board of Trade, from which avc have given extracts^
was embodied Haldimau's account of the Magdalen Islands,
which is extremely interesting. "We regret our space will
not permit its insertion.

In December, 1763, the Earl of Egmont, then first Lord
of the Admiralty, presented an elaborate memorial to the
King, praying for a grant of the whole Island of Saint
John, to hold the same in fee of the Crown forever, accord-
ing to a tenure described in the said memorial. On the
supposition that the island contained two millions of acres, —
for it had not then been surveyed, — he proposed that the
whole should be divided into fifty parts of equal extent, to
be designated Hundreds, as in England, or Baronies, as in
Ireland ; forty of these to be granted to as many men who
should be styled Lords of Hundreds, and each of whom
should pay to the Earl, as Lord Paramount, twenty pound*
sterling yearly. On the property of the Earl — to whom,,
with his family of nine children, ten hundreds were to be
allotted — a strong castle was to be erected, mounted with ten
pieces of cannon, each carrying a ball of four pounds, with
a circuit round the castle of three miles every way. The
forty Hundreds or Baronies were to be divided into twenty
manors of two thousand acres each, which manors were to
be entitled to a Court Baron, according to the Common Law
of England. The Lord of each Hundred was to set apart
five hundred acres for the site of a township, which toAvn-
ship was to be divided into one hundred lots, of five acres
each, and the happy proprietors of five acres were each to
pay a yearly free-farm rent of four shillings sterling to the
Lord of the Hundred. Each Hundred was to have a fair
four times a year, and a market twice in every week.

LORD EG310Nt's SCUE3IE. 11

Tlierc were also to be Courts Lcet aud Courts Baron, under
the direction of the Lord Paramount. A foot-note referring
to these Courts, attached by the framers of tha memorial,
iudicates the ideas which were entertained at this time in
the old country respect iug protection to life and property
in the North American Colonies. " These courts — es-
tablished by Alfred and others of our Saxon Princes, to
maintain order, and bring justice to every man's door — are
obviously essential for a small people, forming or formed
into a small society in the vast, impervious, and dangerous
forests of America, intersected with seas, bays, lakes,
rivers, marshes, aud mountains ; without roads, without
inns or accommodations, locked up for half the year by
snow aud intense frost, and where the settler can scarce
straggle from his habitation five hundred yards, even in
times of peace, without risk of being intercepted, scalped,
and murdered."

To epitomise the proposal : there was to be a Lord Para-
mount of the whole island, forty Capital Lords of forty
Hundreds, four hundred Lords of Manors, and eight hundred
Freeholders. For assurance of the said tenures, eight
hundred thousand acres were to be set apart for establish-
ments for trade and commerce in the most suitable parts of
the island, including one county town, forty market towns,
and four hundred villages ; each Hundred or Barony was to
consist of somewhat less than eight square miles, and the
Lord of each was bound to erect and maintain forever a
castle or blockhouse as the capital seat of his property, and
as a place of retreat and rendezvous for the settlers ; and
thus, on any alarm of sudden danger, every inhabitant
might have a place of security within four miles of his habi-
tation. A cannon fired at one of the castles would be heard
at the next, and thus the firing would proceed in regular

12 HISTORY OF PUINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

order from castle to castle, and be the racaiiji, adds the iioblo
memorialist, " of putting; eery inhabitant of the whole
island under arms and in motion in the space of one quarter
of an hour."

As we have already stated. Lord Egmout's memorial was
presented in December, 1703, and in January, 17G4, it was
backed by three different communications, addressed to the
Lords of Trade and Plantations, and signed by thirty influen-
tial gentlemen, Avho were supposed — on account of military
or other services — to have claims on the government.

On the 13th February, 17G4, a report was made on the
memorial by the Board of Trade, to which it had been re-
ferred by the King. The Board reported that the scheme was
calculated to .answer the purposes of defence and military
discipline rather than to encourage those of commerce and
agriculture, and seemed totally and fundamentally adverse
in its principles to that system of settlement and tenure of
property which had of late years been adopted in the
colonies, with so much advantage to the interests of the
kingdom ; and they therefore could not see sufRcient reason
to justify them in advising His Majesty to comply with Lord
Egmont's proposal.

In forming plans for the settlement of the American
Colonies, the object the Commissioners had principally in
view was to advance and extend the commerce and naviga-
tion of the kingdom, to preserve a due dependence in the
colonies on the mother country, and to secure to them the
full enjoyment of every civil and religious right, so that the
colonists might have just reason to value themselves on
being British subjects. In order to attain these objects, the
Board had recommended such a mode of granting lands as
might encourage industry, which is the life and spirit of
commerce ; and in the form of government, they recom-

EGMONt's MEMOllIALS. 13

mended a constitution for the colonies as nearly ."iniilar to
that of Britain as the nature of the case would perni't. In
adopting this policy they had followed what appeared to have
been almost the invariahle practice of Government ever since
the surrender and revocation of those charters which were
formerly granted for the settlement of America; and the
effects could be best judged of by the present flourishing
sta^e of the colonies, and the progress they had made in
cultivation and commerce, compared with their condition
under those charters, which, though granted to persons of
rank and consequence, and accompanied by phuH of govern-
ment,— the result of the study and reading of wise and
learned men, — yet, being founded in speculation more than in
experience did, in the event, not oidy disappoint the san-
guine expectations of the proprietors, but check and obstruct
the settlement of the country.

The report pointed to the grant made to the Lords Pro-
prietors of Carolina, as a striking example of the inexpe-
diency of such a plan of settlement, little progress having
been made in the execution of it till the property, being re-
invested in the crown, a new foundation was laid, which
resulted in prosperity and advancement. The report, of
which we have attempted to give a sketch, ended with the
following words : — " We have not thought proper to take
the opinion of Your Majesty's servants in the law upon the
question whether Your Majesty can legally make the grant
desired by the Earl of Egmont, because we cannot think it
expedient, either in a political or commercial light, for Your
Majesty to comply with his Lordship's proposals ; and as
Your Majesty has been pleased to annex the Island of Saint
John to your Province of Nova Scotia, we humbly recom-
mend the settling it upon the plan and under the regulations
approved of by Your Majesty for the settlement of that
province in general."

14 niSTOUY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

On receiving this reply to Ihh memorial, the Earl ncMressed
a second one to the King, substantially the same as the
former, to which no reply seems to have been made, lie
accordingly luul a third one drawn out and presented, attach-
ing the names of his co-adventurers, who had agreed to
assist his Lordship in the settlement of the island. The list
included four admirals, a large number of officers, and eight
members of parliament. This memorial, like the first, was
referred to the Board of Trade, who prepared a lengthened
report in answer to it. The opening passage was of such a
nature as to make the memorialists imagine that all
desired was to be granted. " We are of opinion," said the
Board, " it may be highly conducive to the speedy cultivation
of your Majesty's American Dominions that the nobility
and other persons of rank and distinction in this country
should take the lead, and show the example in the under-
taking and carrying into execution the settlement thereof,
and that all due encouragement should be given to officers
of Your Majesty's fleet and army, to whose distinguished
bravery and conduct this kingdom is so much indebted for
the acquisitions made in the last war." But this soothing
paragraph was followed by others which blasted the hopes
of the ardent adventurers, by insisting on the distribution of
land on the island being made in conformity to those principles
of settlement, cultivation, and government which had been
previously adopted, and were founded on experience.

The King referred this report, and all the other papers, to
a committee of council, to whom Lord Egmont sent obser-
vations on the report, drawn up wnth great ability, in which
his former arguments were repeated, and others adduced to
strengthen them. These observations are pervaded by a
bitterness of expression which, in the circumstances, is
pardonable. The committee of council coincided in the

egmont's letteu to uolland. 15

views of the Bonid of Trade, aiul on the 9th of May, 17G4,
oame the climax to Lord Egmont's proposal, in the form of
a minute of council, embodying a report adverse to the pro-
position of the Earl, and ordering that no grants be made of
land in the Island of Saint John upon any other principles
than those comprised in the reports of the Lords Com-
missioners of trade and plantations.

About the time of the arrival in London of Captaia
Holland's plans of the island, the friends of Lord Egmont
again mustered in great strength, including officers of high
rank in the naval and military service, bankers, and mer-
chants, and drew up a final memorial in behalf of his Lord-
ship's scheme, which closed with these words : — " That if
at the end of ten years any ill consequence should be found
to have arisen therefrom, upon an address to the two houses
of parliament. His Majesty in council might change the
jurisdiction in such manner as experience of the use or abuse
might then dictate or demand." That Lord Egmont was
sanguine as to the success of this last appeal i'l his behalf,
appears evident from a manuscript letter now before us,
addressed by him on the 8th October, 1765, to Captain
Holland, in Avhich he says : — " I think it proper to let you
know that a petition will be again presented to His Majesty
in a few days for a grant of the Island of Saint John, upon
the very same plan as that proposed before, which [ have
now reason to expect will meet with better success than the
former. The same persons very nearly will be concerned,
those only excluded who were drawn away by proposals and
grants elsewhere by the Board of Trade, in order if possible
to defeat my scheme. For yourself, you may be assured of
your Hundred, as formerly intended, if I have anything to
do in the direction of the affair, — which probably I shall
have in the same mode and manner. Whether the grant

16 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

may be made before the arrival of the survey or not I can-
not certainly say, but we wait patiently for it, and hope
it will be done accurately as to Hundreds, Manors, Free-
hold Villages, Towns, and Capitals, that a moment's time
may not be lost afterwards in proceeding to draw the lots,
and then in proceeding to erect the Blockhouses of the
Hundreds on a determined spot, which is the very first
work to be put in execution, and agreed to be completed by
all the chief adventurers within one twelvemonth after the
grant shall be obtained." This communication leads to the
conviction, that if the island had been then granted no time
would have been lost in erecting the strongholds referred to.
It is evident that the erections were intended to consist
mainly of wood. The adventurers were, for the most part,
wealthy and influential, and under their auspices thousands
would have emigrated to the island. It were vain to specu-
late as to the effect which would be produced if Egmont's
scheme had been put in execution. In looking over the list
of those to whom Hundreds were to be allotted, we find that
of the forty persons specified, tliirty-two were military or
naval officers, — men whose profession did not, as a rule, fit
them for the direction of the settlement of a new colony.
It is probable, however, that the expense to whic; , at the
outset, the forty Lords of Hundreds were to be put would
prompt them to take a more lively interest in their property
than was exhibited by the subsequent grantees. It is, how-
ever, possible that not a few of the proposed lords intended
to dispose of their property to the highest bidder soon after
the lots were dravrn, and thus to avoid the expense of
the blockhouse erections, such a transference of interest
being allowable under the proposed original grant. That
Egmont intended to carry out his scheme in its integrity,
there is no room to doubt. He must have employed the

OFFER TO EGMONT. 17

highest legal ability to frame his memorials, which are dis-
tinguished by a mastery of the ancient feudal tenures of the
kingdom, which elicited expressions of admiration from the
government. The pertinacity with which he urged his
scheme showed that he was not a man easily diverted from
any settled purpose, and few governments could have resist-
ed the powerful influence he brought to bear for the attain-
ment of his object. There can be little doubt that whatever
might be the consequences of possession to the Lord Para-
mount himself and his family of nine children, the destiny
of the island would have been far better iu his keeping than
in that of the men to whom it was afterwards unfortunately
committed. In order to conciliate Lord Egmout, and make
reparation to him for the trouble and expense to which he
had been put in urging his scheme, the Board of Trade, by a
minute dated the 5th of June, 1767, oflered him any entire
parish, — comprehending about one hundred thousand acres, —
which he might select, but his lordship addressed a letter
to the Board on the eleventh of the same month declining
to take the grant.*

* The writer has obtained his information from manuscript copies of the
original minutes of the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations.

: - CHAPTER II.

Determination of the Home Government to dispose of tiie wliole Island—
Tlie manner in wljich it Avas effected— Conditions on whicli grants were
made— Appointment of Walter Patterson as Governor— Novel duties

. imposed on liim— Callbeck made prisoner by Americans— Arrival of
Hessian Troops— Sale of Land in 1781— Agitation in consequence— Com-
plaints against the Governor, and his tactics iii defence — Governor supcr-

,; ceded, and Colonel Fanning appointed— Disputes between then — Charges
of immorality against Patterson- His departure from the Island.

IjIjLTHOUGH the government had resohitely opposed
the scheme of settlement proposed by Lord Egmont,
yet it was disposed to divide the island among persons
who had claims on the ground of military or other public
services; and it was accordingly determined, in order to
prevent disputes, to make the various allotments by ballot.*
The Board of Trade and Plantations accordingly prepared
certain conditions, under which the various grants were to be
made. On twenty-six specified lots or townships a quitrent
of six shillings on every hundred acres was reserved, on
twenty-nine lots four shillings, and on eleven lots two
shillings, payable annually on one half of the grant at the
expiration of five years, and on the whole at the expiration

* The method of granting the lots was the following :— The Board of Trade
ordered all petitioners for grants to appear before them personally or by
deputy on the 17th and 24th June, and 1st July, 1767, in support of their
respective claims. During these days, after hearing parties, they selected
those whose claims seemed preferable, and on the 8th of July the list was
completed, and finally adopted. The balloting took place on the 23rd of
July, 1767, in presence of the Board. The name of each applicant was
written on a slip of paper or ticket, and put in the balloting box,— the lots
being granted in running numbers as they were drawn.

CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT. 19

of ten years after the date of the grants. A reservation
of such parts of each lot as might afterwards be found
necess.ary for fortifications or public purposes, and of a
hundred acres for a church and glebe, and of fifty acres for
a schoolmaster, was made, five hundred feet from high-
water mark being reserved for the purpose of a free fishery.
Deposits of gold, silver, and coal were reserved for the
Crown. It was stipulated that the grantee of each town-
ship should settle the same within ten years from the date
of the grant, in the proportion of one person for every
two hundred acres ; that -such settlers should be European
foreign protestants, or such persons as had resided in British
North America for two years previous to the date of the
grant ; and, finally, that if one-third of the land was not so
settled within four years from the date of the grant, the
whole should be forfeited. Thus the whole island was, in
1767, disposed o" in one day, with the exception of lot
sixty-six, reserved for the King, and lots forty and fifty-
nine, — which had been promised to Messrs. Spence, Muir,
and Cathcart, and Messrs. Mill, Cathcart, and Iliggeus, by
the government, in 1764, in consideration of their having
established fisheries, and made improvements on the
island,* — and three small reservations, intended for three
county towns. A mandamus addressed to the Governor of
Nova Scotia:, the island being now annexed to that province,
was handed to each of the proprietors, instructing the
governor to issue ^h-i respective grants, on the conditions
specified. In the following year, 1768, a large majority
of the proprietors presented a petition to the Kirig, praying
that the island should be erected into a separate government ;
that the quitrents which would become payable, according

* See manuscript minute of meeting of Commissioners uf Trade and
Plantations, dated eighth July, 1767.

20 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

to Stipulation, in 1772, should become payable from the first
of May, 1769, and that the payment of the remaining half
should be deferred for the period of twenty years. This
proposition was accepted by the government, and accordingly
Captain Walter Patterson, one of the island proprietors, was
appointed governor. He, accompanied by other officers,
arrived on the island in 1770, at which period, notwith-
standing the conditions of settlement attached to the land
grants, there were only one hundred and fifty families and
five proprietors residing on it. It was calculated by the
government that the quitrents would amount in the aggre-
gate to fourteen hundred and seventy pounds sterling. The
governor was instructed to pay out of that fund the follow^-
ing annual salaries, in sterling currency : to himself, as
governor, five hundred pounds, to the secretary and
registrar, one hundred and fifty pounds, to the chief
justice, two hundred pounds, to the attorney general, one
hundred pounds, to the clerk of the crown and coroner,
eighty pounds, to tlje provost marshal, fifty pounds, and to
a minister of the Church of England, one hundred pounds.
This arrangement w^as to remain in force not more than ten
years, and in the event of the quitrents falling short, from
any cause, of the required sum, the salaries were to be
diminished in proportion. . -

The governor was required to perform other duties, which
were grossly unjust, and in some cases beyond human
capability. He was, for example, enjoined by the twenty-
sixth and twenty -seventh articles of his instructions to
permit " liberty of conscience to all persons (except Roman
catholics), so they be contented with a quiet and peaceable
enjoyment of the same, not giviug offence and scandal to the
government," and he was also " to take especial care that
God Almighty should be devoutly and duly served through-

' BRITISH SECTARIAN POLICY. 21

out his government." No schoolmaster, coming from Eng-
land, was permitted to teach without a license from the
Bishop of London ; and it was assumed in his instructions
that all christians, save those connected with the Church of
England, were heterodox. Some denominations were, indeed,
tolerated ; but in conformity to the bigoted British policy of
the times, Roman catholics were not permitted to settle on the
island. This sectarian policy has borne bitter fruit in Ireland,
in the alienation of a great mass of the Irish people. So
deeply has alienation struck its roots, and so widely spread
are its branches, that, notwithstanding catholic emancipation,
its effects are still painfully visible, not only in Ireland, but
also in the masses of the Irish people located in the United
States, as strikingly evinced in the election of the late John
Mitchell, for Tipperary, and in the honors whidi have been
paid to his memory in the States. More than one generation
will pass away ere the evil effects of unjust anti-catholic
legislation are totally obliterated from the continent of
America.

The little progress made in the settlement of the island,
from the time it was granted until the year 1779. is indicated
by the fact that no step had been taken to introduce settlers
into all the lots, ranging from one to sixteen, besides other
thirty-tlr. ee which were in the same condit'on. Thus,
although more than ten years had elapsed cince the ballot
took place, in scarcely a score of lots was there any attempt
made to conform to the conditions attached to the oixty-seven
townships.

Notwithstanding the very small population of the island,
it was resolved to grant it a complete constitution. This
step the governor was commanded in his instructions to take
as early as possible. " The forming a lower house of
representatives for our said Island of Saint John, " said His
Majesty," is a consideration that cannot be too early taken

2% HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

up, for until this object is attainable, the most important
interests of the inhabitants will necessarily remain without
that advanta;j^e and protection which can only arise out of
the vigor and activity of a complete constitution." In the
year 1773, the first assembly was convened. The first act
passed was one confirming the past proceedings of the gov-
ernor and council, and rendering vali<l all manner of process
and proceedings in the several courts of judicature within
the island, from the first day of May, 1769, to the present
session of assembly.

The proposal to pay the government officials in the island
from the amomit realized from the quitrents completely failed,
as but few of the proprietors acted as if they had been under
obligation to comply with the conditions on which they
obtained their grants. The sum realized from the amount
of quitrents paid was totally inadequate to pay the official
salaries. Hence it was necessary tb.at some other arrange-
ment should be adopted. The governor was reduced to such
straits for want of money, that he was under the necessity
of appropriating three thousand pounds, granted by par-
liament for tlic erection of public buildings in the island,
for the maintenance of himself and the other government
officers. The governor w^ent to England in 1775, wdien it
was agreed that the proprietors, in order . to meet the
difficulties of the case, should present a memorial to the
Secretary of State for the colonies, praying that the civil
establishment of the island should be provided for by an
annual parliamentary grant, as in the case of the other
colonies. By a minute of the seventh August, 1776, it w\is
ordered by the government that the arrears of the quitrents
due should be enforced by legal proceedings, and that the
sum thus obtained should be devoted to the refunding of
the amount expended, in a manner incompatible with the

CALLBECK MADE PRISONER. 23

object for which it was voted. The power for the recovery
of the qiiitrents, with wliich the governor was thus invented,
was not speedily exercised, as he was anxifms not to offend
the proprietors, throngh whose influence the payment of tlie
civil establishment of the island was placed on a more
satisfactory footing. '

During the governor's absence in England the Hon. Mr.
Callbeck, being the senior member of the council, was
sworn in as administrator. In November of that year, a
ship from London, having on board a number of settlers,
and loaded with a valuable cargo, was unfortunately wrecked
on the north side of the island. All on board were saved,
but the cargo was either lost, or destroyed to such an extent
as to be of little value, — an accident which involved no small
hardship to the inhabitants.

In this year too a memorable iucident occurred. Whilst
the good people of Charlottetown were living in apparent
security from hostile aggression, two American armed vessels
which had been sent to cruise in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in
order to intercept English ordnance store-ships, supposed '.o
be on the way to Quebec, entered the harbor, and a landing
was effected without any opposition, when the administrator,
Mr. Callbeck, Mr. Wright, the surveyor general, and other
officers of the government were made prisoners, and put
with such valuable booty as the Americans could lay hands
on, on board ship, and conveyed to New England. On
arriving at the head-quarters of the American army, then at
Cambridge, General Washington disapproved of the hostile
act, dismissing the principal officers from their commands,
telling them that *' they had done those things which they
ought not to have done, and lefl undone those things which
it was their duty to have done." At the same time he dis-
charged the prisoners with expressions of regiet, and re-
turned all the property.

•24 IIISTOllY OF riUNXE EDWARD ISLAND.

In the following year the Diligent^ an armed brijr, was
(letaclied by tlie admiral, commanding in America, to pro-
tect the i.sland, which vessel was replaced by the Hunter^
sloop of war, towards the end of the year, and which
remained till November, 1777. The arrival of the latter
vessel was extremely opportune, as a hostile expedition to the
island was being organized by rebels from Machias, in
Massachusetts, who had arrived at Fort Cumberland, in
Nova Scotia. These men paid a visit to Pictou, where
they seized on an armed merchant ship, then loading for
Scotland. Fearing resistance, which they were not in a
condition to overcome successfully, these rebels entered, with
their prize, into the Bay of Verte, for the purpose of
receiving reinforcements. But not being successful in this
effort, on account of a defeat at Fort Cumberland, the vessel
was given up to one of the officers, the rebels escaping on
shore. The vessel then came to Charlottetown, where she
remained during the winter.

In 1777 the administrator received instructions from the
secretary of state for the colonies to raise an independent
force for the defence of the island ; but from the small
number of the male population, which had been previously
considerably reduced by recruiting officers, this force was
never completed. In the following year, however, four
provincial companies were sent from New York, under the
command of JIajor Hierliky, for whom barracks were
erected, under the direction of an engineer from Nova
Scotia, and the island was thus placed in a defensive posi-
tion, which greatly reduced the chances of a successful
attack during the American war. "With the exception of a
few sheep, occasionally taken by the men of privateers, and
some valuable property seized at the harbor of Saint George
(now Georgetown) , the inhabitants of the island experienced

HESSIAN TROOPS. 25

no further anuovtuicc from tlic Americans diiriiij; the 'on-
tinuanec of tlie contest. The monotony of Charhjttetown
was betimes enlivened during the summer by the j)resencc of
the British war vessels employed in accompanying convoys
to Quebec, and the occasional conduct into the harbor of
American privateers which had been captured at sea by
the Briti.sh cruisers, and whose men were marched as prison-
ers through the woods to Halifax.

An interesting trial took place in Cluirlottetown iu 1779,
in the case of Thomas 3Iellisli, v. the Couvoy ship Dutchess
of London^ which Mr. Mellish seized for (smuggling. The
trial lasted for several months. Mr. Mellish was an officer
in the First Troop of Horse Guards, and served also in the
colonial military service. He was a member of the house of
assembly, and held the office of collector of customs and
other public positions for many years. His son, Thomas
Mellish, died at an advanced age in 1859. Referring to his
death, the Islander describes him as a most loyal British sub-
ject, and a devoted adherent of the Church of England.

Towards the end of October, 1779, the town of Charlotte-
town received a temporary accession to its inhabitants, by
the arrival of the Hessian regiment of Knyphansen, under
convoy of the war ship Camilla. Severe gales were
encountered in the River Saint Lawrence, which compelled
the ship to take refuge in the island. The troops Avere
landed, and there being no barrack acconmiodation for them,
some succeeded in hutting themselves most comfortably.
Some of the men were suffering from fever, but speedily
recovered, on account of the admirable character of the
climate. The town supply of provisions was utterly inade-
quate to meet the demand occasioned by so large an addition
to the population, but the farmers soon made up the de-
ficiency, and the Hessians remained till the month of June,

2G HISTORY or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

when tlioy l»'t't for tlieir <U'sti nation. Not a few of the men
were so favorably impressed with the ishmd, tliat they
returneil to it from Germany, many years afterwards, and
became industrious seltk'rs.

Governor Patterson returned to the ishmd in 1780, re-
lievin;^ the Honorable T. DesBrisay, who had succeeded Mr,
Callbeck as administrator ; and shortly after his arrival he
appointed JMr. Nisbet, his brother-in-law, then clerk of the
council, to the office of the receiver of quitrents. It was now
determined by the governor to enforce a law passed by the
assembly in 1773, "for the effectual recovery of certain of
His Majesty's quitrents in the Island of Saint John," and
in conformity to the treasury minute of the seventh of
August, 1776, to which reference has already been made.
Accordingly, early in 1781, proceedings were commenced in
the supreme court against the townships in arrear of quit-
rents, as enumerated in the act of 1773, and the sale of a
number of townships was thus effected. These reasonable
proceedings were complained of to the British government,
and powerful influence was brought to bear for the purpose
of counteracting them. As the act of 1773, which had been
confirmed by His Majesty, only applied to a part of the lands
granted, it was deemed necessary to pass another act in
1781, which was intended to take a wider scope, and to
render the sale of all lands in the island, Avhere quitrents
remained unpaid, legal. This act had, however, a clause
suspending its operation till the King's pleasure should be
known. It appears by a manuscript copy of a report, dated
tenth of July, 1783, by the lords of the committee of council
for plantations, now before us, that this act was referred to
Andrew Jackson, one of the King's council, who reported
that, in point of law, no objection could be made to it ; and
the same report also furnishes interesting information as to

PETITION BV ruoriuKTORs. 27

the coiisiMeratioiJS by wliicli tlio frovcrnmeiit was Infljioncoil
in its troatnuMit of the action of tlu' Ilonfc of Assembly in
rc'«ranl to lan<l. An application was made in behalf of
ofHcers abroad in the Kin«r's service, who were proprietors
of land, prayin<r that the arrears of (piitrent dne on their
lands should be remitted, jmd that no proceed in^jTS should be
taken to dispose of those lands for future arrears until the
conclusion of the war, when they mi^ht be enabled to settle
and improve the same. Thomas Townshend, the colonial
secretary, accordin^rly recommended that no action during
the war should l)e taken ajrainst the property of absent
officers. A petition was about the same time presented by
other proprietors of land in the island, recitin<r the difficul-
ties peculiarly incident to the island, showing that their
expectations, mainly in consequence of the American war,
had proved abortive, and complaining that many of the
allotments in the island had been sold under the assembly
act of 1774, and of the treasury order of 177G, to officers
resident in the island, for little more than the arrears and
charges of confiscation. They further prayed for a remis-
sion of the quitrents in arrear, an<l that in future they might
have the option of paying the quitrents either in London or
the island. The council proceeded, on the first of May, to
take these matters into consideration, when it was agreed
"*' that all such as, on or before the first of May, 1784, should
have pnid up all the arrears of quitrent due upon their
respective lots to the first of May, 1783, should, from the
said first of May, 1783, until the first of May, 1789, be
exempted from the payment of more than the quitrent now
payable upon each of their lots, and that, for and during the
further term of ten vears, — to commence from the said first
of May, 1789, — the same quitrent only as is now payable
on each of their lots should coatinue to be paid in lieu of the

91 HISTORY. OF PRINCE KDWARD ISLAND.

n<lvanf'0(l qiiitront, •wliicli, by the torma of tlio frrants, ^\•()^lT(V
liiive become due aii<l payable from tlie saiil Hrnt of May,
1780." Id acconlaiu'e with tills decision, a bill was pre--
pareil, which not only «rrantc(l the redress speciHc<l in the •
above quotation, but also disallowed the act of 1781, and .
repealed the act of 1 774, and rendered all the sales etfected
under it void, on the jjayment by tlu^ ori;j^inal proprietors of '
the purchase-money, interest, and charges incurred by the
present holders, comi)ensation bein;; also refiuired for any
improvements made on the lands since the date of sale.
This bill was drawn out in London, and sent to Governor-
Patterson in 1784, in order that it might be submitted to
nnd ad(>pted by the house of assembly. But the governor,
liaving been himself a purchaser to a large extent of the
confiscated jjroperty, assumed the re.'^ponsiliility of post--
poning official action in the matter, on the ground that the
government was mistaken as to facts connected with the sale
of the land, and, on consulting with the council, it Avas
resolved to send to the home government a correct represen-
tation of the circumstances under Avhich confiscation took .
place, in justification of delay in submitting the bill to the-
assembly for approval.

A Mr. John Stuart,* an intimate friend of Governor
Patterson, and who had resided in London for fourteen,
years, was iu 1781 appointed by the house of assembly
as their London agent. We have been favored with the
perusal of a number of private and confidential letters

* Tins gentlaraan was not John Stewart, of Mount Stewart. The latter
was only twenty-three years of age when John Stuart was appointed by the
assembly their agent in London, and he had been only three years on the
island at the time of the appointment. His Honor Sir Robert Hodgson, the
Lieutenant Governor, has taken the trouble to peruse the con*espondence
which passed between Governor Patterson and John Stuart, and in a note
addressed to the writer, sajo: "I feel convinced that John Stuart was the

CAPTAIN MACDONALl), TIIK rUOl'UIKTOR. 20

wliich piisscMl lu'twct'ii tlu! ;iovoni«)r and this ;;i'iitK'inan.
These throw coiisicUn'ahk' li;;lit on the ishmd history of this
period. The sah's of hiiul recently iiia(U^ excited intense
jnili;^nation ajrainst tlie governor on the part of those
Avhose property lia«l been confiscated, who were ha<ke(l
in their applications for reth'ess by the ;xcneral hody
of proprietors. The act sent to the "governor, and which lie
failed to present to the house of assenddy, was the result of

. these applications. In the preamhle of that pf)rtion of tiic
act which provided for relief to the complainants, it was
stated that tlie <;overnor and council, on the iirst day of

! December, 1780, unanimously resolved, in order to «:ive
absent proprietors whose lands were liable to be sold an

• opportunity of relieving their property, that no sales should
take })lace until tlie first Monday of Novem])er fidlowinjr,
and that in the meantime the colonial agent in London
shouhl be instructed to inform the proprietors of the pro-
posed sale ; and " whereas,'* runs the act, " notwithstanding
such determination an<l resolution, no such notice was given
by the colonial agent to the proprietors, it seems reasonable
that they should obtain effectual relief in the premises." It
18 only fair that the governor shoidd be allowed to reply in
his own words, as contained in a letter now before us, which
he addressed to his friend Stuart on the twelfth of Mav,
1783. In order that a portion of that letter may be under-
stood, it is necessary to say that Captain McDonald, one of
the proprietors resident in London, had written a pamphlet

person whose name appears on the Island Statute of 30 George III, cap. 5, of

the year 1790, •'.c the owner of ten thousand acres of land; and who, I have

always understood, was a personal friend of Governor Patterson, and if

liUi an original grantee, must have acquired his land by the instrumentality

of his fi'iend the governor, under the sale of the lands ior the non-payment

-• of quitrents, so frequently alluded to in the correspondence." The writer

;iia3 carefully gone over the list of original grantees, in which there is one

: named John Stewart, but not one who spelt bis name Stuart.

30 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

reflecting on the conduct of the governor in disposing of the>
land, wliich contributed in no small degree, as Mr. Stuart
affirms, in causing the act of relief to be prepared. After
referring to business matters, which have no bearing on our
story, the governor says : " What appears most pressing at
present is to say something in answer to my friend Captain
McDonald's proceedings. But first I must express my aston^
ishment at your not having received any letters from me
since December, 1781. I Avrote and sent two by the express,
■which went to the continent in February, 1782, — not to you,
indeed, because I thought you had sailed for India ; but Mr.
Townshend received them, I am certain, for I have answers to
them from you. I wrote a long one to you in October, 1782,
on a variety of subjects. If this letter has not reached you,
I am very unfortunate, as I have no copy of it. I wrote
you three others in the course of the winter, copies of which
shall accompany this, though they will be now, I fear, of
little use, except to show that I have not been idle, or negli-
gent in my attention to the interests of this government. If
I succeed, I may be rewarded by my own feelings, but as to.
any grateful returns, I expect them not. In bodies of men
there is no such virtue as gratitude, nor indeed but very
rarely in individuals, I feel this, and in few instances,
more sensibly than in the behaviom- of Captain McDonald.
Believe me, my friend, I have rendered him and his family
many disinterested and essential services ; nor do I know
that I can let an opportunity slip of doing so, when in my
power. But noio, when he thinks his interest is in the least
affected, he becomes my enemy, and that, too, in a matter
where I am only a spectator, or rather, when I ought to
have been only such ; for the fact is, I did step out of my
line in the business of forfeiting the lots, but then it was
only to continue my wonted practice to benefit the propri-.

LETTER OF GOVERNOR PATTERSON, 31

etors. For this purpose I advised sending the advertise-
ments to EngUind, which the law did not require. I, hy
the advice of council, postponed the sales from time to time,
in hopes the proprietors would take some steps in consequence
of the 'advertisements, and, with this view, prevented their
taking place till the latter end of November, when every
hope was over. This the law did not require, and the
advertisements not reaching England in time was not my
fault, as the resolution of council directing their being sent
is dated twenty-sixth November, 1780, and the sales did not
take place for a year afterwards. I did more : I prevented
all the lots from being sold belonging to proprietors Avho I
knew were inclined to improve their land-f and this I did by
taking the debt upon myself, which was not required by the
law, nor perhaps in justice to my own family ; nor do I
believe there is an instance of such conduct in any other
man. Among the number so saved is the lot belonging to
this same Captain McDonald, though I had no hopes of his
paying his quitrents, or of his doing any one thing relative
to the settling of it ; for he has repeatedly told me himself
that he would not, as he thought he had engaged to pay too
much money for it to the chief baron from whom he bought
it. What I did was out of tenderness to his sisters, who
live upon the lot, and to give him time to think better. I
saved Lord Townshend's, the chief baron's, etc., and, in
short, what I thought worth the saving, — and all at my own
risk. I have done still more, for I have prevented any
further sales since the first. This I also did for the benefit
of the proprietors, knowing the lands would not bring their
value ; and I did it at the risk of my commission, for I did
it in the face of a positive order from the treasury. So far,
1 hope I am not to blame.

"As to the regularity and legality of the proceedings in
other respects, I am not accountable. The lands were

32 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

seized in terras of a law passed near ten years since, and the
proceedings conducted by the law officers, — I have no doubt
properly. ' '

" There is some idea, I find, of rescinding the purchases,
and that government will order it. Whoever has formed
such an idea must have stranjje '"otions of «?overnment.
Government may order me ; and, if I have a mind to be
laughed at, I may issue my orders to the purchasers ; but
can anyone believe they will be obeyed ? Surely not ; nor
would I be an inhal)itant of any country where such a power
existed. My money may with as much justice be ordered
out of my pocket, or the bread out of my mouth. A gover-
nor has just as much power to do the one as the other. I
should like to know what opinion you woidd have of a
country where the validity of public contracts depended on
the will of the governor.

'' The purchases were made in the very worst period of the
war, when the property was very precarious indeed, and
when no man in England would have given hardly a guinea
for the whole island. It is now peace, and fortunately we
still remain a part of the British Empire. The lands are
consequently esteemed more valuable, and the proprietors
have become clamorous for their loss. Had the reverse
taken place, — had the island been ceded to P'rance, — let me
ask, what would have been the consequence? Why, the
purchasers would have lost their money, and the proprietors
would have been quiet, hugging themselves on their own
better judgment. There can be no restoring of the lots
which were sold. There has not been a lot sold on which a
single shilling has bees expended by way of settlement, uor
upon which there has been a settler pUtced ; so that those
proprietors who have expended money in making settle-
ments have no cause of complaint."

SALE OF LANDS. > 33

Complaints had been made to the home government, of
which Mr. Stuart had informed the governor, that a hirge
quantity of the hind disposed of had been bought for trifling
sums by the governor and other officials of the island. The
truth of this charge was acknowledged by the governor, for
he says in the letter from which we liave quoted so largely :
"That t)ie officers of the government have made purchases
is certain, and that I have made some myself is also as
certain ; but I should be glad to know who would be an
officer of government if, by being such, he was deprived of
his privileges as a citizen."

Mr. Stuart writes the governor on the twenty-ninth of
June, 1783, that he received, on the twenty-second of April,
three letters from him, dated respectively, thirtieth Novem-
ber, first and seventh December, 1782, and in reference to
the sales of land which had been effected, remarks : " The
time of the sale, in the midst of a distressful war, when
there could be neither money nor purchasers ; the rigid con-
dition of obliging the proprietors to pay their quitrents in
the island , and not giving at least a twelvemonth's notice of
the sale in England, as well as in the island, are everywhere
urged and admitted as sound arguments against the confis-
cation of lands in an infant colony, and I must frankly con-
fess that they have too much force in them to be totally
denied."

Whilst it is impossible to deny that Governor Patterson
had ample governmental authority to dispose of the lands,
yet his doing so before he had any evidence whatever
that the advertisements sent had obtained the desired pub-
licity, or even that his letters had reached their destination,
was, to say the least, a most unreasonable proceeding, and
constituted sufficient ground of grave complaint against his
conduct. That as an intending purchaser he had a material

D

34 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

interest in bringing the lands speedily to the hammer, cannot
be denied ; and that after so many years had elapsed since
the act and the treasury minute by which a sale of the
townships whose quitrents were fu arrears was rendered
legal, he should have chosen a period for the sale when,
according to his own confession, capitalists might not be
disposed to give a guinea for the island, seems to import
that the governor had, in the conduct of the business, con-
sulted his own interest rather than that of the proprietors.
This impression is deepened by the proceedings which fol-
lowed.

It has been already stated that, on receiving from Eng-
land the act which was intended to restore the property sold
to the original holders, he had delayed to submit it to the
house of assembly. Believing that the present house would
pass the act in question, in the event of his being again
ordered to submit it for their approval, he resolved on a
dissolution of the house, and to exert his influence in obtain-
ing one better suited to his purpose. He accordingly
carried out his resolution early in 1784, and, in March
following, a general election took place, and the legislature
met soon after. It is a most significant indication of the
state of public opinion at this time, in reference to the gov-
ernor's conduct in so hastily disposing of the lauds, that the
new house, instead of approving of the governor'^s conduct,
resolved to present a complaint against him to the King,
and was actually engaged in framing it, when a dissolution,
by command of the governor, again took place. His Excel-
lency, appreciating the importance of the crisis to himself
personally, determined to leave no means untried to secure
an assembly favorable to his views. The danger was im-
minent ; for the recent proceedings were adopted by the
house in ignorance of the views of the home government as

. ''. ^ LOYALISTS INVITED. 35

to the governor's conduct, which he had carefully concealed,
and which were known only to the council, who were bound
by oath to secrecy. He expected an order from England to
submit the dreaded act to the house, and was most desirous
that, before that could be done, the forthcoming house should
pledge itself to au approval of the sales of 1781, and thus
neutralize the effect which a knowledge of the intended dis-
approval of the previous assembly might produce on the
home government.

Circumstances favored his design. New York having
been evacuated by the British troops, many of them had
resolved to settle in the island. A large number of loyalists
were now leaving the States and settling in Nova Scotia.
Efforts were made by the governor to induce some of them
to settle in the island. In addressing Mr. Stuart, in 1783,
he says, in reference to this subject : " I do not as yet hear,
notwithstanding my efforts, of any of the loyalists coming
this way. They have all gone to Nova Scotia, through the
influence of Mr. Watson. I will not, however, as yet de-
spair of having a part. I am sending a person among
them on purpose, and at ray own expense, to carry our
terms and to invite some of the principal people to our
lands. If they will but come, — and depend on the evi-
dence of their ow'u senses, — I am certain they will prefer
this island to any of the uncultivated parts of Nova Scotia.
It is exceedingly unlucky that my despatches of last Novem-
ber did not reach you in time. Had the proprietors sent an
agent to New York, offering liberal terms to the loyalists,
they would have reaped more benefit thereby than by all
the memorials they will ever deliver to government." We
find, by a letter from Mr. Stuart to the governor, dated a
mouth later than that from which a quotation has just been
given, that the proprietors were sensible of the importance of

86 HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

•

presenting iuducements to the loyalists, for they subscribed
liberally to a fund raised for the purpose of conveying them
to the island. Orders were issued to the governor to appor-
tion part of the land to the loyalists ; the attorney general
'^vas to make out the deeds of conveyance without any
expense to the proprietors, who were to be exonerated from
the quitrents of such shares of their land as were granted to
the loyalists. In consequence of these arrangements, a con-
siderable number of loyalists were induced to come to the
island, to whom the governor paid due attention, and whose
votes he had no difficulty in securing at the coming election.
In order to complicate matters still more, and throw addi-
tional obstacles in the Avay of the much dreaded act, he took
care that not a few of the allotments made to the refugees
should be on the lands sold in 1781.

Being thus fortified for the coming battle, he determined
to risk another election in March, 1785, when he secured the
return of a house bound to his interests, which Mr. Stewart, of
Mount Stewart — on whose testimony implicit reliance can be
placed — assures us " was not accomplished without a se-
vere struggle, much illegal conduct, and at an expense to
the governor and his friends of nearly two thousand pounds
sterling." The time of the assembly was, to a considerable
extent, taken up during the session by proceedings which
had a tendency to produce a favorable impression as to the
governor's acts. Not a word was said in the house regard-
ing the proceedings of 1781 ; but, when tlie house met in
the following year, the governor determined that a measure
ahould be adopted which would frustrate any attempt to
Tender the sales of 1781 futile. To effect this object, he
caused a measure to be introduced entitled " An act to ren-
der good and valid in law all and every of the proceedings
in the years one thousand seven hundred and eighty and one

STUART FAVORABLE TO THE GOVERNOR. 37

•

thousand seven hundred and eighty-oue, which in every re-
spect related to or concerned the suing, seizing, condemning,
or selling of the lots or townships hereinafter mentioned, or
any part thereof." This act was adopted witiiout scruple
by the assembly, but was disallowed by His Majesty ; and,
affording as it did convincing proof of the governor's deter-
mination to act in opposition to his instructions, led to his
being superceded in his office.

Mr. Stuart, the London agent for the island, fought at
all times resolutely for the governor, using all the means in
his power to place his character and transactions in a favor-
able light before the government and proprietors. Having;
obtained information from reliable sources as to the inten-
tions of the government in reference to the governor, he
addressed a letter to him on the 19th of June, 1786, inform-
ing him of the decision as to his recall. This manuscript
communication, now before us, is especially interesting and
valuable, as showing that, after its receipt, Governor
Patterson could not have been mistaken as to the nature of
the recall, and as accounting for some of his subsequent
proceedings. Mr. Stuart says ; '* Youi- brother will have
acquainted you with the caballing and intrigueing of your
opponents to effect your removal, and of the invincible
silence, or rather sullenness, of office with regard to their
real and ultimate intentions towards you. Mr. Nepean,
I think, has indeed opened himself at last, and given a pretty
plain clew to their disposition not to support you. He told
your brother very lately that Lord Sydney had sent you the
King's leave of absence. This is surely a plain indication,
especially after you were required to answer charges, and
those answers still remain imheard and undecided upon,
although your brother has made repeated application, and
even memorialized the council for a hearing. The real

38 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

cause and design of this extraordinary and unfair step
neither your hrother nor I has yet been able to develop.
Mr. Nepean endeavored to gloss it over by many specious
assurances and declarations that it proceeded from no
hostile intentions, but was meant only to afford you an
opportunity of effectually vindicating your conduct, and
refuting the many accusations which had been sent home
against you ; in which event, he said, you would return to
your government with additional honor and support. He
may think these will pass as very plausible motives ; but
what as to their reality? I can only construe it as a mea-
sure, of great and unnecessary severity, — I miglit say
injustice. It is not customary to call home governors
until their conduct has been investigated and adjudged.
They may put Avhat construction they please upon the
gentle terms, ' leave of absence,' but if you think it
incumbent to accept this leave of absence, it must appear
in the eyes of the world as an absolute recall. This
is an event, my dear friend, which I have long dreaded ;
and what adds inexpressibly to the poignancy of my present
feelings, is that I know not how to offer you advice
in a situation of so much delicacy ; for if you disobey
this insidious order, your character may suffer in the
public estimation, and if you obey it, your fortune may
eventually be materially injured. It^ is indeed a cruel
alternative, but it is a case in which you alone can be a
competent judge. ; ^ - - *

" This business has been managed with so much secrecy,
or, at least, it has been so studiously concealed from your
friends, that we have not been able to learn when your
leave of absence was sent out, or whether, indeed, it be yet
gone. In case of your removal, your brother has picked up
some intimation that Colonel Fanning, Lieutenant Governor

STUAUT's letter to loud SYDNEY. Si

of Nova Scotia, i.s likely to be your successor. In the pres-
ent temper and disposition of ollice, I fear that your brother's
succession would be more ditficult than to sustain you in the
government. I am exceedingly anxious to learn the fate of
the (piitrent bill. I hope the assembly may have passed it
in some shape, and that the sales have been revoked. This
is intelligence which should have arrived ere this time. I
fear that your long silence and delay on this head is con-
strued into contumacy and resistance. Your enemies here
are busy and fertile in their insinuations."

Anxious to serve his friend the governor, Stuart, under
pressure from that gentleman's brother, addressed a letter
on the twenty-sixth of February, 1786, to Lord Sydney,
though doubtful of the propriety and policy of the act, in
which he states that he received a letter from the governor,
intimating that he (the governor) was aware that reports
had been circulated in England grossly misrepresenting his
motives in having purchased some of the lots escheated under
the quitrent act of 1774, — the governor declaring that his
sole motive in making these purchases was to secure to
himself a part of the very old arrears due to him for salary,
— an act which he conceived to be strictly legal, — and stating
that he had bought the lands at their full value. The gov-
ernor was prepared, as stated in his letter, to restore what
he had bought on his being reimbursed the amount of the
purchase-money, with interest, agreeably to their lordships'
resolution in 1783.

Stuart's letter, from which we have quoted so largely,
was received by the governor on the tenth of October, 178G,
and it is extremely probable that it was by the same mail
that he also received official information of his having been
superceded in the government of the island, and commanded
to submit to the assembly the act rendering the sales of 1781

40 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. x

voidable, — of which another copy was now sent, — wliich
had come to liis hands two years previously, but with re*rard
to whiHi no action had been yet taken. The governor, as
if sensible of his extreme folly in disregarding the royal
instructions, submitted the measure to the house of assembly ;
and the bill was read for the first time on the first of Novem-
ber, and for the second, on the tenth of the same month ; but
it was subsequently decently interred by a house which was
guided by the significant nods of the governor. But, in
order to conciliate the home government, his excellency
caused a private bill to be introduced, providing for the
restoration of the escheated land to the proprietors, but so
contrived that, even if carried out, the heavy payments re-
quired to be made counterbalanced any benefits that could
be derived from its adoption. When the character of this
measure became known to the proprietors, they brought a
criminating complaint against the superceded governor and
the council, which, on being investigated by the committee
of privy coimcil, led to the dismissal of the members of
council implicated, as Avell as that of the attorney general.
No further action against Governor Patterson was deemed
necessary, as he had been already dismissed.

Early in November, Lieutenant-Governor Fanning ar-
rived from Nova Scotia to assume the government of the
island ; but Mr. Patterson refused to give up the reins of
oflSce, on the ground that the season was too far advanced
for his return to England, — the appointment of Fanning
being regarded by Patterson as only intended to supply his
place during his own temporary absence. Mr. Stewart, of
Mount Stewart, asserts that Patterson affected ignorance of
the. nature of the recall respecting whose import, as being
absolute and final, no reasonable doubt could exist ; but in
this we can prove he was mistaken, from the terms in which

' FANNING ArrOINTED GOVERNOR. 41

the appointment was conveyed to Fanninj^ l)y Lord Sydney,
— a document wliich Mr. Ste'.vart evidently had not seen,
and whicli proves that Patterson was not destitute of a very
plausible if not solid reason for holding his post till the
weather admitted of his leaving .he island. Lord Sy<lney,
addressing Fanning, in a despatch dated the thirtieth of
June, 178G, says: ** The King having thought it necessary
to recall Lieutenant-Governor Patterson, of the Island of
Saint John, in conse(inencc of some complaints which have
been exhibited against him, thai an inquiry should be made
into his conduct, Ilis Majesty, from t!ie opinion which he
is pleased to entertain of your ability and discretion, and
with a view to give you an early proof of his royal appro-
bation of your services, has been pleased to appoint you to
carry on the public service of the island during Lieutenant'
Governor Patterson's absence, or initil some determination
shall have taken place respecting his proceedings.

" As it is His Majesty's desire that Lieutenant-Governor
Patterson should be relieved in time to enable him to return
to England in the course of the autumn, Ilis Majesty trusts
that you will lose no time in repairing to Saint John, and
in settling such arrangements with the said lieutenaut-gov-
ernor, previous to his departure, as may be necessary for
your carrying on the business of the island." Thus Pat-
terson's retention of office till the spring does not seem in
the circumstances unreasonable ; but Mr. Stewart, in his
account of the island, informs us that his continuance in it
was contrary to the desire of the inhabitants generally, who,
during the winter, did not fail to present addresses to Fanning,
calling upon him to assume the government to which, accord-
ing to his commission, he had been appointed. On the
arrival of Fanning, Patterson addressed the following letter
to Lord Sydnq^, the Colonial Secretary : —

42 HISTORV OK rUINCK KDWAKI) ISLAND. ^

-. '' Island of Saint John, 5tli Xoveinber. 178(5.

'' Mv Loud,— F/uMit«'n:int-0(>vonior Faini'm^ suTlvrd Iktg
yesterday, and by liliu I liave been lionored by your lonUlilp's
letter of the tbirtietli Tmie. sayin;i: that many representations
have been made to the Kin^ of nnproper proeeedhiji^s in the
exercisi! of tiie pf)\vers with ^^hieh 1 have been vested, and that
it is Ili^ ■Majesty's j)leasure that I should repair to En^^land as
soon as may be, to give an account of my conduct; also com-
manding me to deliver to Lieutenant-Governor Fannin;jf such
papers and documents as may be necessary to enable him to
o\rry on the public service durinpf my absence.

*• I have received His Majesty's commands with the utmost
veneration and respect, and nothin<if ^ives me so uuich pain as
Mheu I have it not in my power to carry them into immediate
execution.

'' Sucli papers and documents as appear in tlie least ueces-
t^ary towards carryin*^ on the preseuL service shall be delivered
Avithout loss of time; but there are unsurmountable reasons
why I cannoL this winter quit this island. The season is too tar
advanced to lea\ e a possibility of arranriuj^ my little matters
so as to prevent total ruin in my absence. Besides, my lord, if
the charges are such ;j^ I have already answered, m,y ipse dixit
Avill add but little weight t > my defence, and I have no further
proof to oftor. If there have been any new charges sent from
hence, the evidence to disprove them cannot be had in England;
therefore, my going home without them would only prove a
useless trouble to your lordship and to myself. It is an un-
speakable grief of heart to me that I am under the necessity so
long of lying under the appearance of having proved unworthy
of my station. All my labors for thirty years have been in
search of reputation, and I have gained it everywhere but
where most T wished. Be assured, my lord, it will be my pride
and glorj' if I can restore confidence among the council of my
royal master. I hope and trust 5^our lordship will feel my
situation as I do myself, and that in justice you will order me
copies of my crimes, so as to have them by the first of spring;
and be assured that I shall, as soon after the leceipt of them as
possible, with every anxious and eager hope, pa}"^ instant obe-
dieuce to the roval mandate.

FANNING IN OrrOSITION TO rATTtKSON. ^

*' Were it even possible for mc, at so fvw (lays' notloo, to quit
tlie islaiul, even with the total niiii of my family, I should be
obH«reil to aecuiniilat*' ruin oa riilii l)y beiii;:^ obli<;e(l to stay a
whole season in En^flantl to wait for «'vi(U;n<M! from hom<', ami
in place of expediting, it must delay my hearintf. Hut if I cannot
^o from hence prepared to answer my accusers, after my arrival
my fate may be soon decided; and if I have not been "JTuilfy of
what will deprive me of my liberty, I niay return in the course
of the sununer to cultivate my farm.

" His Majesty is full of justice. He is the father of his people,
and therefore cannot wish the ruin of a subject, much less of an
old v\id faithful servant. Tlien I doubtless shall have justice.
I wish no more. Atford me only an opportunity of clearin«; my
character, and I shall instantl}'^ resi«^n. I have Ion*? and anx-
iously wished to do it, and most certainly shall the moment 1
can with honor.

" I cannot even "fuess at the nature of my present accusations ;

but be they what they may, I wish to meet them ; and I shall do

so, my lord, with a contldence and certain knowled«:e that they

are as unfounded as the last. I know I have done no wrong,

and therefore court inquiry; but I also know niy enemies, and

must go prepared among them. A conscious rectitud«; of heart

forms, my lord, arms of adamant, — a shield which admits no

fear.

"I am, my lord, &c.,

"Walteh Patteusox."

But Patterson had a large number of friends in the island
who backed him in his opposition to Fanning ; and the
council, consisting of men of his own selection, and the
assembly being ready to act according to his dictation, he
was in hopes that representations proceeding from these
sources would secure his restoration to a position to which
he was now clinging with tenacity. During the winter
the government of the island remained in this anomalous
condition ; but early in April following, Governor Fanning
issued a proclamation notifying his appointment, and calling

44 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

on all loy.al iuhabitants to recognize his title to the governor-
ship. But Patterson issued, on the following day, a counter
proclamation, declaring that he was the accredited represen-
tative of His Majesty, and enjoining the people to pay no
attention to the pretensions of a usurper.

A correspondence passed between the rivals. From manu-
script copies, now before us, it appears that Patterson and
Fanning had entered into an agreement on the seventh of
November, 178G, by which the latter gentleman's appoint-
ment was to remain in abeyance for some time. Patterson,
on the arrival of Fanning, had intimated his intention of
meeting the assembly as governor ; but Fanning contended -
that Patterson luA promised to give up the government after
the legislative business which he wished transacted was-
finished. This was emphatically denied by Patterson, who-
asserted that the command was, by mutual consent, to re--
main with him till the weather permitted his departure from
the island, or more distinct orders were received from Eng-
land, to which representations of the state of matters were-
forwarded by both parties. On the 17th of February^
Patterson addressed a bitter letter to Fanning, complaining
of his violation of the agreement solemnly made between
them, in which he wrote : " Was it consistent with that
engagement that your warrant was exhibited to a large*
company at your own table, and afterwards to the public
by one of that company, in order to prove your right to the
command? Was it consistent with that engagement that
my avowed and notorious enemies were almost constantly
adopted as your confidential friends? You will not be sur-
prised at my faith in you being put to a severe trial when I
heard that the court of justice was disturbed, and a copy of
your warrant there read by a gentleman very much in your
confidence, questioning the judges as to your right of com-

PATTERSON REBUKED. 45

»mand, and calling on all His Majesty's subjects on their
allegiance to assert your right ; ami when I have been told
that the sou of that gentleman, in the same open court, said
to the commanding officer that, if it had not been for his
detachment, you should long ago have had the government,
. — meaning that he and his friends would by violence have
wrested it l^l^m me. I have also been informed that
officers of the government refuse paying any attention to my
orders, and quote your commission and yourself as the
reason of such disobedience."

Notwithstanding the intense fermentation occasioned by
4his unseemly dispute, the public peace was not disturbed.
As was generally anticipated, on the arrival of the spring
mail, the conduct of Patterson was rebuked by the home
government, and he was peremptorily commanded to trans-
fer the permanent command to Fanning, — a change which,
Mr. Stewart says, was "agreeable to the island in gen-
eral." * Patterson soon left the island for Quebec, but
returned in a few months, and exerted himself to the utmost
in obstructing the operations of the government ; but, after
two years* residence, and bitter opposition to the adminisira-
*tion of his successor, he left the isliind and returned to
England, cherishing the hope of enlisting the sympathy and
^support of the proprietors resident there, — a hope which
-was doomed to be disappointed.

* The following id a copy of the despatch addressed to Fanning:—

" WmxEHALL, 5th April, 1787.

" Sir, — Your despatch, number one, of the fourteenth of October last, in
answer to my letter of the thirtieth of June last, was duly received, and I
have since been favored with your letters, numbered two, three, and four,
giving an account of your arrival iu the Island of Saint John, and of certain
proceedings which have taken place subsequent to that time.

"His Majesty, from the very extraordinary conduct of Lioutenant-Gov-

. ernor Patterson, has thought it advisable to dismiss him at once Irom office,

_,and has been graciously pleased to fix you in the government ot that

■ V

46 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Fidelity to historical accuracy compels us to say that a
charge affecting the moral character of the late governor
had been made, in which the wife of one of his friends was
implicated. That charge, whether true or false, was doubt-
less forwarded to English headquarters, where, if supported
by satisfactory evidence, it was certain to have no small
influence in determining the fate of Patterson as governor,
and may account for the mysterious silence of officials (as
complained of by Mr. Stuart) when pressed for informa-
tion with regard to the reasons by which government was

island, persuaded, from the proofs you have given of your zeal for his

service, as well as of j'our prudence and discretion, that you will make a

suitable return for the confidence which has been placed in you by a laith-

ful and diligent discharge of your duty.

•'I am, sir, your obedient servant,

*• Sidney.
" To LiEDTENAXT-GovERNOu Fanning."

The following is the letter of Lord Sydney, formally intimating to Patter-
son his dismissal, as well as the reply to the communication of Patterson to
his lordship, already given :—

** Whitehall, 5th April, 1787.

" Sir, — I have received your letter, number thirty-one, of the fifth Novem-
ber last, in answer to one from me of the thirtieth of .June preceding,
wherein you have stated certam reasons which have induced you to delay
the carrying into execution Ilis Majesty's commands, which were sent to
you by me, for delivering over the charge of the Island of Saint John to
Colonel Fanning, and for your returning to England to answer certain com-
plaints which have been exhibited against j'ou.

" Without, however, entering into the grounds upon which yon have pro-
ceeded to justify disobedience of His Majesty's orders, I must acquaint you
that I have received his royal commands to inform you that His Majesty
has no further occasion for your services as Lieutenant-Governor of Saint
John.

" Colonel Fanning, who has been appointed your successor, will receive

from you all the public documents in your custody, and such orders and

instructions as have been transmitted to you which have not been fully

executed.

•' I am, sir, your obedient, humble servant,

" Sydney.
" Lieutenant-Governor Pattekson." > . ., *

PATTERSON IN ENGLAND. 47

influenced in dismissing liim from a post which lie had held
for sixteen years. In one of Patterson's private memoran-
dum books, now before ns, there are some curious entries, in
his own handwriting, with regard to that charge, in which he
summarises various arguments which might be urged against
the probability of its truthfulness, but which neither alHrm
nor deny its validity. If these notes had not been made
by his own hand, and the pronoun / h.ad not been once
inadvertently used, they might be supposed to have been
the production of one on whom was devolved the legal
defence of the governor.

When Patterson arrived in London, he found the friends
who had formerly used their influence in his favor extremely
cool ; and thus all hope of lis restoration to the governorship
was blighted. The large sums he had expended in the
election of a house favorable to his views, and the impos-
sibility of saving auy part of his annual income (five hundred
pounds steiliug), without sacrificing the becoming dignity
of his post, added to the circumstance that his wife and
family had to be maintained in England during the whole
period of his incumbency, rendered his means extremely
limited. Being pressed by his creditors, his extensive and
valuable property in the island was sold — under hard laws,
which had been enacted under his own administration — at
nominal prices. It need therefore excite no surprise that he
never returned to a scene invested with so many painful
recollections.

But the question occurs : what became of the escheated
lands which wee ordered to be restored to the original
proprietors? After the proceedings already recorded, no
determined effort to obtain the property was made by the
original holders, with regard to whose claims to restitution
no doubt could now exist. The assembly did, indeed, pass

48 HISTORY OF riilNCE EDWAKD ISLAND.

an act in 1792, by which the old proprietors were permitted
to take possession of their property ; but eleven years
having elapsed since the sales took place, and complications
of an almost insuperable nature having in consequence en-
sued, the government deemed it inexpedient to disturb the
present holders, more particularly as not a few of them had
effected a compromise with the original granules, which
entitled them to permanent possession. Hence the act
referred to was disallowed, and thus a subject which had
for years agitated the community was permitted to remain
iu continued abeyance.

CHAPTER III.

Proprietors indifferent to their engagements— Extent to which settlement
was eflectcil — Coniphiints of the People of nonfiillilment of engagements —
Character of the Repl.v — The influence of the Proprietors with the Hume
Government — The Dukeof Kent— Proposal in 17S0 to name the Island New
Ireland— Tlie name adopted— Formation of Light Infantry, and Volunteer
Horse— Immigration of Highlanders — Memoir of Genei'al Fanning.

cw\;:_jS proof that the great bo<]y of the proprietors were
J^ utterly iudiifereut to the enga;]femeut.s they contracted
(= =>f^ wheu they obtained their lauds, it is only necessary to
state that in only ten of the sixty-seven townships into Avhicli
the island was divided were the terms of settlement complied
with, during the first ten years which had elapsed sine©
possession was granted. In nine townships settlement was
partially effected, and in forty-eight no attempt whatever at
settlement seems to have been made. In 1797, or thirty
years after the grants were issued, the house of assembly,
sensible of the necessity of taking action for the more effect-
ual settlement of the island, passed a series of resolutions, —
founded on a deliberate and painstaking investigation of all
the townships, — which were embodied in a petition to the
home government, praying that measures should be takeu
to compel proprietors to fulfil the conditions on which the
land had been granted. The assembly drew attention to the
following facts : That, on twenty-three specified townships,
consisting of four hundred and fifty-eight thousand five hun-
dred and eighty acres, not one settler was resident ; that on
twelve townships the population consisted only of thirty-six
families, which, on an average of six persons to each family,

50 IIISTOKY OF rillXCE EDWARD ISLAND.

numbered in the aggregate two hundred and sixteen souls,
wlio thus constituted tlie entire popuhition of more than half
of the island. On these and other grounds, it appeared to
the house that the failure of so many of the proprietors in
implementing the terms and conditions of their grants was
highly injurious to the growth and prosperity of the island,
ruinous to its inhabitants, and destructive of the just expec-
tations and views of the government in its settlement. The
house contended that the long forbearance of the govern-
ment, towards the proprietors who had failed to do their
duty, had no other etfect than to enable them to speculate on
the industry of the colony. The house was of opinion that
the island, if fully settled, was adequate for the maintenance
of half a million of inhabitants, and it prayed that the pro-
prietors should be either compelled to do their duty, or that
their lands shoidd be escheated, and granted to actual settlers.
The petition embodying these views was forwarded to the
Duke of Portland, — the colonial secretary at the time, — and
the force of its facts and arguments seems to have been felt
by the government, for a despatch was sent to Governor
Fanning, intimating that measures would be adopted to
rectify the grave evils enumerated in the petition. The
process of escheat was not, however, acceptable to the pro-
prietors who hat. done their duty by settling their lands, for
the obvious reason, that in the event of free grants being
made of die forfeited property, the tenants on the already-
settled land would prefer to give up their farms and become
proprietors. In conformity with the promise made by gov-
ernment. Governor Fanning, in his speech to the assembly
in November, 1802, said that he had the satisfaction to
inform them, on the highest authority, that the public affairs
of the island had been brought under the consideration of
His Majesty's ministers in a manner highly favorable to the

FAIR PROMISES AS TO ESCHEAT. 51

late humble and dutiful representations made on behalf of
the inhabitants, respecting the many largo, unsetth'd, and
uncultivated tracts of land in the island. In order to give
effect to the measures which had been adopted by His
Majesty's ministers, it would be necessary th:it the govern-
ment of the island shoidd be prepared to adopt, when
circumstances should render it advisable, the requisite and
legal steps for effectually revesting in His Majesty such lands
as might be liable to be escheated. The house, in th ir
reply to the address, requested a more explicit statement
from his excellency as to the information which he had
received on this important subject ; to which his excellency
replied, that he had already presented all the infornuition
which it was in his power to furnish. It does indeed seem
strange that the governor should have been instructed to
refer officially to measures which '"had been adoj^ted " hy
the home government for the rectification of an admitted
evil, and yet was apparently imable to explain the character
of these measures for the guidance of the assembly in a
branch of legislation which they were unequivocally invited
to adopt. Such mysterious reticence was in direct opposi-
tion to ordinary governmental procedure in similar cases.
But the local government, never dilatory in business con-
nected with escheat, prepared a bill entitled " An act for
effectually revesting in His Majesty, his heirs and successors,
all such lands as are, or may be, liable to forfeiture within
this island," which was passed by the assembly and assented
to by the governor on the second of April, 1803. It did
seem a mockery of the assembly when that bill was, con-
trary to the expectations of the people, disallowed by the
liume government, without any reason assigned. A com-
mittee on the state of the colony accordingly drew up je
strong and spirited remonstrance, in which they boldly said r

58 IIISTORV OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

" It appears to the committee, and they liave the strongest
reason to believe, that tlie royal assent to the said act for
reinvesting His Majesty with such hinds as are or may be
lialde to forfeiture within this ishmd, has been graciously
approved by His Majesty." Tlicy then expressed their con-
viction, which was well founded, that the formal royal
allowance had been withheld by means of unfounded repre-
sentations of interested individuals in England. The com-
*inittee sent these resolutions to William and Thomas Knox,
the agents for the island in London, with instructions to use
their utmost efforts to give effect to the remonstrance ; and the
house of a-sembly also presented an address to the lieu-
tenant-governor, complaining of the efforts that had been
made to render His Majesty's intentions abortive, requesting
him to transmit their petition and resolutions to Lord Castle-
reagh, and duplicates to the Earl of Liverpool, president of
the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade and Planta-
tions. The house also appointed a committee, consisting of
Holland, Macgowan, Stewart, Palmer, and Macdonald, to
draw up a new bill, substantially the same as the former,
which was duly passed. Nothing was wanting on the
part of the assembly to neutralize the influence brought to
bear in London in order to fnistrate their intentions ; and
if the British government had not on this occasion lost its
usual character for consistency and adherence to principles,
«o explicitly enunciated, the royal intentions, as intimated
Ijy the lieutenant-governor, would have been honestly carried
out. The period was one of great political excitement in
London. Lord Hobart, through whom the governor had
received a solemn promise that the evil complained of would
he rectified, had given place in the colonial secretaryship to
the excitealde Castlereagh, and the solemn obligations of
office appear to have b- en forgotten in the political fermen-

IXFLUENCE OF ENGLISH rROrHIETOPo. 58

tiitiou of the moineut. It would be difTiciilt to })oiut out, in
the liistorv of the Britifih colonial tuliniiiistiation. another
in-itance where the dictates of political c(in.-i.-teucy and
liouor were so lUiirrantly di^^regarded as in the car^e under
review.

The intluence exerted on jrovernment hy tlic jtroiirietors
ri -ident in London seemed irre.«?istil»le, and was such as no
noverument of our time could tolerate. The key to their
power seems to be found in the circumstances that they were,
for the most part, men in intimate social relations with
parties in office, and, moreover, mainly consisted of officers
who Avere supposed to have rendered good service in time of
war, and whose complaints or representations, therefore,
commanded at all times the roval consideration and svm-
pathy. The proprietors, besides, cultivated the good-will
and friendship of the under-secretaries, and other secondary
government officials, who kept them informed t»f wltat was
going on, and contributed in many indirect ways to j)romote
their views. Mr. Stuart, in his letters to Governor Patterson,
— who was by no means distinguished for the mavitcr in
hiodo^ — frequently urged him to write certain persons in the
government offices in a conciliatory and friendly manner, as
he was convinced that they could exert no small influence
in behalf of his interests. The proprietors not only suc-
ceeded in preventing the resolutions commended by the
Duke of Portland from leading to any practical result, but
also in obtaining, in 1S02, an important reduction in the
quitrents which remained unpaid, and which noAV amounted
to the large sum of tifty-nine thousand one hundred and
sixty-two pounds sterling ; the sum due on some of the
townsliips being actually more than their estimated value.
In order to discriminate between the proprietors who had
exerted themselves to carry out the terms of their grants,

54 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

and those wlio had not, the ^^overument divi<k'd the commu-
tation into four chisscs, rcHjuiring from the proprietors who
had on their proi)erty the necessary number of setth'rs only
five years' quitrents, instead of thirty-tw(j years', — namely,
from 17G0 to 1801, — and makin<; a proportionate deduction
in the case of the four other classes. But as evidence of
the determination of many of the landowners not to con-
form to the law, and their confidence in their own power to
set the regulations of government at defiance, — as they had
hitherto systematically done, — it may be here stated, that
even the reduced amount does not seem to have been paid ;
and it was mainly in consequence of such daring and long-
continued violation of obligation that the people, from time
to time, in paroxysms of just indignation, demanded the
establishment of courts of escheat.

In 1794, Prince Edward — afterwards Duke of Kent, and
father of Iler Majesty the Queen — arrived in Halifax. In
that year two provincial companies were raised for the pro-
tection of the island, and when His Royal Highness became
commander-in-chief of the forces in British North America,
he ordered new barracks to be erected at Charlottetown, and
defensive works for the protection of the harbor to be con-
structed. The Duke never visited the island, but its inhabit-
ants were duly sensible of the practical interest he took in
its welfare ; and having determined that its name should bo
changed, on account of the mistakes incident to other towns
bearing the same designation, a local act was introduced in
1798, which changed the name to Prince Edward Island,
which act received the royal allowance on the first of
February, 1799. We find that in the year 1780, an act
for altering the name of the island from Saint John to that
of New Ireland was passed in the assembly with a suspend-
ing clause. In a letter addressed by Mr. Stuart to governor

ACT FOR CIIANGIN(J THE NAME OF THE ISLAND. 55

Patterson, dated the third of Murcli, 1781, lie says : '* Your
passing an act to cluiuge the name of tlie ishmd is con-
i?idered as a most iinprecedontt'd instance of inv^rnlarity.
Tlie reasons you give wliy it shouhl be changed arc admitted
to be of some force, but tliey insist upon it that you «)uglit,
in common decency, to have set forth tliose reasons in a
petition to the King, instead of passing a presumptuous act
Avhich is neither warranted by hiw nor usage." This act
Avas, of course, disavowed ; but the governor did not lose
sight of the liint as to petitioning, as appears from a passage
in another letter from Stuart tw Governor Patterson, dated
October, 1783, in whicli he says: " I am not unmindful of
your petition for changing the name of the island, but I
keep it back till wc shall have carried points of more
importance. When they are accomplished, I shall bring it
forward." Had the first application been made by petition
to the King, it is extremely probable that the proposed
change of name would have been adopted.

Besides the two companies mentioned, a light infantry
company and three troops of volunteer horse were formed
in the island, who were handsomely clothed and mounted
at their own expense, and ai-med at the expense of the
government ; at this time every man from sixteen to sixty
years of age was subject to the militia laws. These wise pre-
cautions prevented any hostile descent on the island during
the war, and tended to infuse a spirit of self-reliance and
patriotic ardor into the community.

If the reduction of the quitrents failed as an inducement
to the proprietors to pay what was now really due to govern-
ment, it did not fail to lead to brisk business in the sale of
property, for from the commutation to the year 1806, nearly
a third of the entire land in the island had been transferred
by purchase to persons, many of whom were really deter

5G HISTORY OF FRIXCE EDWARD ISLAND.

mimMl, 1)V iii'lustrv ami strict rcirard to law, to make tlic
ventmv j)ernianeutly profitable.

Tlie year 1JS03 was remarkabli' in tiie liistory of the
isilaiul tor a lar'rc imnii^'ratioii of hi^fhlaiulers from Seotlaiul.
The Earl of Selkirk brougiit out to his property about eii^ht
hundred souls. Tiiey were located ou land north and south
of Point Prim, which had been previously occupied by
French settlers, but a hnye portion of which was now again
covered with wood, and thus rendered <lillicult of cultiva-
tion. Many of his lordship's tenants became successful
settler^i.

Lieiitenant-Gi'neral Fanning's connection Avith the island,
as governor, terminated in 1804. During his administration
the island did not make any remarkable progress in its
various interests ; but Mr. John McGregor, — a native of the
island, and of whom we shall have more to say by-and-bye, —
in his work ou British North America, has hardlv done the
general justice, in re})resenting him as of very "obscure
origin, and owing his future to circumstances, the advantages
of which he had the finesse to seize." General Edmund
Fanning wa^ a native of America, and was born iu tlie
Province of New York, on the twenty-fourth of April, 1739.
He wa-i the son of James Fanning, a captain in the British
service, and of his second wife Marv Smitb.. daughter of
Colonel William Smith, who for some tunc ii Iministered the
government of New York, and was sol-^ proprietor of Smith
Town, on Long Island, Tlie paternal grandfather of
General Fanning came to America, from Ireland, with
Earl Bellemont, in 1G99.

Captain James Fanning, having disposed of his com-
mission Avhile in England, returned to New York in 1748,
when his son Edmund, then in the ninth year of his age,
Avas sent to a preparatory school, and thence removed to

SKETCH OF COLONEL FANNING. 57

Yali' CoUi'p', Xt'W Ilavt'ii, wluTo, after piin<r tlin»u;:li tin*
rt'^rular ('(»iirse of ('c>IK';_natt' stihlic^, In* rt'Ci'ivt'tl tlic <U';:ri'i'.'<
of Baclu'lcr an<l Ma>trr (tf Arts; ami in 1774 lie was
lioiioivil l»v tlu' I'liivcrsitv of Oxford, Kii'Maiiil, uitli tin- dt-
*irec of Doctor of Civil Law. Fr<»in «'ollt<ro he procoeded to
North Carolina, wliere. after stiidviti-^ two years under tlie
attorney p'Ueral of tliat j>rovince, lie was, in 17f»2, admit-
ted to the bar. Ife was snicees.-t'ul in his profession ; hut
tlie troubles <»f thi' ewntful period in Anieri<'a wliieh fol-
h)wed the j)a.«sin;r of the Stamp Aet l>y thi' British l*arli;i-
ment, inchiced him to enter the eivil and military service of
his C'ountrv. In 1705 he was appointed l»v Ciovernor Trvou
of North Carolina one of the Jud^'cs of the Supreme Court
in that province in the room of Mr. Justice jNIoore, who was
dismissel fi'om otfice upou the supi)ositiou of hi.; favorinjr
the public commotions at the time existin*]^ in North Caro-
lina. In 17G8 he raised, at the reipiest of Governor Tryon,
•d corps of eight hundred provincials to oppose and put down
a body of insurgents who styled themselves regulators,
whose object was to rescue from trial and pimishment lead-
ing rebels. In 1771 he was again called upon by Governor
Tryon to raise and embody a cori)s of provincials to snp>-
press an insurrection in North Caridina, and was second to
Governor Trvon at the battle of Allamance, in which action
the insurgents, to the numl)er of twelve thousand, were totally
defeated.

In the year 1773 Colonel Fanning went to England, strongly
recommended to His Majesty's ministers for his services
in North Carolina. Having apj)lied for the otlice of Chief
Justice of Jamaica, he received a letter froi' Lord Dart-
mouth, then secretary of state for the American department,
stating that ii was impossible in this case to comply "vvith
his wishes, but that he should have the first vacant post that

58 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

miglit be deemed worthy of liis services. Having received
this assurance, he returned to America. Two montlis after
his arrival at New York, he was appointed to the oihce of
surveyor general of tliat province, tlie annual fees of wliicli
were said to be wortli two tliousand two liundred pounds
sterling. But in the following year Colonel Fanning was
driven from his house in New York, and took refuge on
board the Asia, ship of war. He afterwards served in the
armv, having raised a rejriment called "The Kinjjr's Ameri-
can Regiment." During the war he was twice wounded.
There is ample proof that he discharged his military duties
with courage and ability.

On the 24th of February, 1783, Colonel Fanning was
appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, an appoint-
ment which he accepted with a promise from Lords Sydney
and North that it should lead to something better. Subse-
quently John Parr was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of
Nova Scotia, and, as previously stated. Governor Fanning
was ordered to relieve Governor Patterson, of Prince Ed-
ward Lsland, which he did in the confident expectation that
he should succeed to the government of Nova Scotia on the
retirement or death of Parr. In 1791 Fanning was informed
of the death of Parr by a letter from Richard Buckeley,
president of the council of Nova Scotia, who concluded by
saying, " as the government of this province, by His Ma-
jesty's late instructions, devolves on you, as senior lieuten-
ant-governor, I accordingly give you early noiice of the
vacancy." This information was received too late in the
autumn to admit of Governor Fanning's proceeding to Hali-
fax, and while making preparations for going thither, he Avas
informed that the position was conferred on Mr. lYentworth,
— intelligence which caused him great disappointment, as he
had well-founded expectations of succeeding to the govern-

THE REV. THEOPIIILUS DESBRISAY. 59

ment of Nova Scotia. The p-ovcnior applied immediately
for leave of absence, but was politely refused, on the jrround
that his absence might, in time of war, prove langerous to
the island. After repeated a|)plications, he at last received a
letter from Lord llobart, dated the Gth of May, 1804, grant-
ing hhn liberty to return to England after the arrival of
Colonel DesBarres, and informing him that His Majesty had
directed that, in consideration of his long and faithful ser-
vices,a provision at the rate of live hundred pounds sterling
should be made for him yearly in the estimates of the island.
Addresses were presented to the governor before his degrftr-
ture, by the council, the respective counties, and the grand
jury of the Island. In 1816 General Fanning closed his
accounts at the audit office, when liis Majesty's ministers,
to mark their approval of his administration of the govern-
ment of the island, directed a retrospective increase of his
salary from the period of his appointment to the colony, in
1786, to that of his retirement. General Fanning died at
his residence in Upper Seymore Street, London, on the 28th
of February, 1818, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

Here we introduce to our readers the Rev. Theophilus
DesBrisay, who, by royal warrant, dated the twenty-first
day of September, I??!, was appointed to "the parish of
Charlotte." Mr. DesBrisay was the son of the gentleman
who has been mentioned as administrator of the island
during the absence of Governor Patterson. He was born
in Thurles, in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, on the
ninth of October, 1754, arrived in the island in the year
1775, and was rector of Charlotte Parish till his death,
which occurred on the fourteenth of Ma^-ch, 1823. He was
the only protestant clergyman on the island till the year
1820 ; was a man of sterling character, au(' a faiiiifal
servant of the Divine Master. Like Bishop McEachern

60

HISTORY OF PKIXCE EDWAIID I3LAND.

and otliors, lie was sultjoetod, in tlie faithful disoliarge of
liis .sacred duty, to privation^ of Avliich the present genera-
tion have no adecpiate conception.*

* In Dr. Patterson's memoir of the late Rev. Dr. James Macgregov, there
is an interesting reference to an interview which the latter eminent mis-
sionary hail with Mr. D^isBrisay. " I afterwanl:?," wrote Dr. Macgregor,
"became acqnainted with him, and was always welcome to preach in hie-
church, whicli I nniformlv did when I could make it convenient. His kind-
ness ended not but with his life." Dr. Macgregor states incidentally that
at tlrs period Churlottetown was a wicked place, We may safely aflirm
that it was not more wicked than any other seaport of its population.

", i^--

CHAPTER IV.

^Colonel F. W. DcsCarrcs, successoi- to General Fanning— His characler as
a Governor — Succeedecl by Charle? Douglas Smith — His character as dis-
played in his opening a<ldrcss— Proclamation of immnnity from Pro-
prietory conditions— Opi)re5sive measures in regard to Quitreuts— John
McGregor, Sheriff— Public meetings called in the Counties — Tyrannj- of
the Govenior exposed— Arrival of Colonel Ready, and departure of Smith.

July, 1805, Colouel Josepli F. W. Dc-^Barres arriveil
in the icilaud for the purpose of succeeding Governor
Fanning. He was a man well advanced in life, and
had held for some time the position of Lieutenant-Governor of
Cape Breton, when that island was a separate province.
His administration Avas notable for the occurrence of three
important events, namely, the ofhcial annouticement to the
assembly that the act of 1803, which was intended to invest
in the Crown the lands on which arrears had not been })aicl,
was disallowed ; the passing of the important resolutions of
the assemblv, to which reference has been alrea<lv made,
condemning the disallowance as grossly unjust, and in direct
opposition to a settled and declared imperial policy ; and the
declaration of war by the United States against Great
Britain. Colonel DesBarres is said to have been a man of
cultivated mind, who, diu-ing his administration, strictly
adhered to the official line of duty ; and if he did not origi-
nate, durinjr the eijrht vears he was in office, any measiu'e
which could be regarded as of striking public utility, he gave
no evidence of a selfish or tyramiical disposition, which is
more than could be affirmed of his successor, Charles
.Douglas Smith, — a brother of Sir Sydney Smith, — who

G2 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

succeeded DesBarres in 1813. Tlic assembly met in No-
vember of the sami.. year. The address which tlie governor-
deliveiod on tliat occasion was sucli as indicated the temper
of tlie man : it was dictatorial and insolent in its tone.
He prorogued the house in January, and indicated his
estimate of the utility of the popular branch of the legisla--
ture by not again convening it till July, 1817. Its proceed- -
ings in that year were not satisfactory to the governor, who
was determined to shackle the members and prevent them
from adopting any measures which did not accord with his
own notions of propriety. His excellency accordingly dis-
solved the house, and a new one was convened in 1818,.
which, proving quite as refractory as the previous one,
was also suddenly dissolved, and another elected in 1820.

On the eighth of October, 1816, the governor had pub--
lislied a proclamation in which he intimated that the King-
had graciously resolved to extend to the proprietors of land
in the island immunity from certain forfeitures to which
they were liable by the conditions of their original grants,,
and also to gi'ant the remission of certain arrears of quitrent,.
and fix a scale for future payment of quitrent. But the-
governor, before the amount of quitrent to be exacted had
been determined by the home government, directed the
acting receiver general to proceed, in January, 1818, to-
enforce payment of the arrears which had occurred between
June, 1816, and December, 1817, on the old scale. Much
distress was occasioned by these proceedings ; and on the
matter being represented to the home government, orders were-
issued to discontinue further action, and to refund the money
exacted above the rate of two shillings for every hundred
acres. It was at the same time intimated that the new rate
would be rigidly exacted in future; but the years 181 9^,
1820, and 1821 passed over without any public demand

PROCEEDINGS AS TO QUITRENTS. C3

being made. Several proprietors, duriiif^ that period, had
offered payment to the actinp: receiver jjeneral, by wlioni
tliey Avere informed that he had no authority to receive it.
Tlie impression was therefore prevalent tliat no further quit-
rent wouhl be demanded, more especially as payment was
not exacted in the neighboring provinces of Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick. But on the twenty-sixth of June, 1822,
the following notice was posted up in Charlottetown by John
Edward Carmichael, the receiver general : " This ofhce will
be kept open from the first to the fourteenth of July, ensuing,
for the payment of all arrears of quitrent due and payable
within this island. Office hours, from ten till two o'clock."
This demand not being peremptory in its terms, was disre-
garded by many who saw it, and the great body of propri-
etors in the country never heard of the notice.

In December, 1822, the acting receiver generjd posi .i up
another notice, intimating that payments must be made by
the fourteenth of January ; but no steps were taken to give due
publicity to the notice throughout the island, neither was any
warning given to the proprietors as to the consequences of non-
payment. In January a distress was taken on the lands of
two of the principal proprietors on townships thirty-six
and thirty-seven. Immediately after doing this, the officers
proceeded to the eastern district of King's County, which
was one of the most populous on the island, and astonished
the people by demanding instant payment, or promissory
notes payable in ten days, on pain of having their land and
stock disposed of by public sale. This district was inhabited
by highlanders, who spoke no other language than their
native Gaelic. Men who would have faced an open foe in
the field, with the courage characteristic of the Celtic race,
had a profound respect for law, and dread and horror of the
bailiflf; and, in order lo pay the demand so suddenly and

64 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

unexpectedly made, many of the poor fellows loaded their
carts with such ])roduce as they could collect, and began a
journey of from fifty to sixty miles to Charlottetown, in the
depth of winter, in order to redeem the notes which they
had sriven to the heartless myrmidons of the law. The
sudden influx of grain into the market thus produced, caused
ii great decline in i)rices. This, with the ^nff"ering occasioned
by the long journey, roused })ublic indignation, and the peo-
ple resolved to hold meetings in tlie respective counties, and
take measures for their own protection against the tyranny to
which they were subjected. At this time. John McGregor, sub-
sequently Secretary totheBoardof TradeinLondon, an<l M.P.
for Glasgow, was high sheriff of the island, and a requisition
was immetliately drawn up and presented to him. It began
in the following terms : •' We, Ilis Majesty's loyal subjects,
freeholders and householders in diiferent parts of this island,
in the jn'esent alarming and distressing state thereof, —
threatened at this time with proceedings on the part of the
acting receiver general of quitrents, the immediate effect
whereof cannot fail to involve a great part of the comnuuiity
in absolute ruin, — feel ourselves irresistably impelled — when
the island has been nearly three years deprived of that con-
stitutional protection and support which might be expected
from our colonial legislature — to call upon you, as high
sheriff of the island, to appoint general meetings of the
inhabitants to be held in the three counties into which this
island is divided, that they may have an opportunity, accord-
ing to the accustomed practice of the parent country, of
consultincj to*retlier for the ireneral benefit, and ioininir in
laying such a state of the colony at the foot of the Throne,
for the information of our most gracious Sovereign, as the
present circumstances thereof require." The requisition
•was signed by forty individuals, and the sheriff appointed

GOVERNOR SMITH AND SHERIFF MCGREGOR. 65

the meetings to l^e held .at certain specified dates at Char-
lottetowu, St. Peter's, and Princetown.

This very legitimate procedure on tlie part of the people
did not accord with Governor Smith's notions of propriety,
and he deemed it proper to remove ^Ir. McGregor from the
office of sheriff, and to confer it on his late deputy, Mr.
Townsliend. On the eighteenth of Fchrnarv, the Hilarv
term of the supreme court commenced, and Mr. Townshend,
at the request of the governor, struck out the name of John
Stewart fi-om the panel. During the term, petitions were
presented to the grand jury, complaining of the conduct of
the acting receiver general and his deputies, and true ])ills
were found against the latter ; Imt no trial took place in
consequence of the interference of the governor.

On the sixth of March, the first meeting called hv the
sheriff took place at Charlottetown. Considering the deep
snow on the ground and the state of the roads, it was numer-
ously attended, and the proceedings were conducted with
tlie utmost order and regularity. A number of resolutions
were passed, which were embodied in an address to the
King, containing grave charges against the governor. It
was said that, though he had resided on the island for ten
years, he had only been once absent from Charlottetown,
when he ventured to drive eighteen miles into the country,
thus failing to make himself acquainted with its actual
condition. He was charged with illegally constituting a
court of escheat in 1818, and, in violation of his own public
proclamation of the 8tli of October, 1816, harassing by prose-
cution the tenants of township number fifty-five. He was
charged with refusing to receive an address from the house of
assembly in answer to his speech at the opening of the session
in November, 1818, though he had appointed an hour for
that purpose. In addition to this public insult, he was accused

F

CG UISTORY OF rUIXCE EDWAIID ISLAND.

of sciuliug a message, ou the fifteenth of December, to tlie
assembly, rec^uiriiig both liouses to adjoiiru to tlic fifth of
January foHowing ; and Itefore the bu.-;iness in ^hichthey
Avere then occupied Avas fiuislied, and Avlien tlie h>\ver liouse
"was on the point of a<lj(jurning, in accordance witli the said
message, it was insuhed by Mr. Carnn'chael, the lienteuaut-
governor's son-in-hiw and secretary, who, advancing within
the bar, addressed the speaker loudly in these words : " Mr.
Speaker, if you sit in that chair one minute longer, this
house will be immediately dissolved," at the same time
shaking his fist at the sjjcaker ; and whih the house was
engaged in considering the means of punishing this insult,
the lieutenant-governor sent for the speaker, and, holding
up his watch to him, said he woidd allow the house three
minutes, before the expiration of which, if it did not adjourn,
he would resort to an immediate dissolution ; and this extra-
ordinary conduct was soon after followed by a prorogation
of the legislature, in consequence of the house having com-
mitted to jail the lieutenant-governor's son for breaking the
windows of the apartment in which the house Avas then
sitting. The lieutenant-governor was also charged with
screening Thomas Tremlet, the chief justice of the island,
from thirteen serious charges preferred against him by the
house. He was also accused of degrading the council by
making Mr. Ambrose Lane, a lieutenant of the 98th regi-
ment, on half pay, and then town major of Charlottetown, a
member of it, without having any claim to the position, save
that of having recently married a daughter of the lieutenant-
governor. Another member was a Mr. AVilliam Pleace,
who came to the island a few years previously as a clerk to a
mercantile establishment ; from which trust he was dismissed,
and then kept a petty shop of his own, where he retailed
spirits. These were some of the charges brought against

CHARGES AGAINST GOVERNOU SMITH. C7

tlie governor, and the adilres?* ooncludoil with the following
words: "That your Majesty's hundjle petitioners regret
much the necessity they are un<ler of approaching ytuir
[Majesty's sacred person m the language of coinj)laint now
submitted to your paternal con>i(leration, and humldy trust,
on a full review thereof, your Majesty Avill he satisiied that
the further continuance of Lieutenant-Governor Smith in
the command of your Majesty's island nmst be distressing
to its inhabitants, and, by preventing the usual course of
legislative proceedings, greatly imi)ede its prosj)erity." The
addresses, ado})ted by the other counties were similar to that
of which we have just given a sketch.

One of the accusations brought against the governor,
which has not yet been mentioned, was, that he permitted,
as chancellor of a court over which he himself presided, heavy
and vexatious additions to the fees since the appointment of
Mr. Ambrose Lane as registrar and master. On the fourteenth
of October, the lieutenant-governor, on preteuce that this
charge was a gross libel and contemj)! of the court of
chancery, commenced proceedings before himself — on the
complaint of his son-in-law — against the members of the
committee appointed by Queen's County to manage the
address to the King, who were all served Avitli an attach-
ment, and subsequently committed to the custody of a
sergeant-at-arms. The object of these proceedings was
evidently to get hold of Mr. Stewart, in order to prevent
him from going to England with the petitions, — of which
the lieutenant-governor had determined to get possession.
Mr. Stewart only got notice of the governor's intentions two
hours before othcers arrived at his house on purpose to take
him into custody ; but he escaped to Nova Scotia with the
petitions, and thence proceeded to England. Had Stewart
been taken into custody, there would, doubtless, have been a

08 IIISTOUY OF rUINCE EDWAUD ISLAND.

rebellion in tlie i.-?hm(l, for the people were exasperated.
Chagrined beyond measure at Stewart's eseapt , the lieu-
tenant-governor determined to lay a heavy fine on the other
members of the committee, and se(iuestrators were appointed
to enter upon their j)roperty and secure the amount ; but
being now alarmed at unmistakeable sym})toms of a jjopular
tumult, he prudently ordered proceedings to be delayed till
his judgment could be enforced. The defence was ably
conducted by Messrs. Biuns and Hodgson.

On Saturday morning, the twenty-sixth of July, 1823,
appeared the first number of tlie Prince Edward Island
Itffjlster, printed and edited by James D. Ilaszard, in which
newspaper all the proceedings to which we have alluded
were published. For the publication of these, Mr. Ilaszard
was served with an order to appear at the bar of the court
of chancery, being accused as guilty of a contem})tuous libel
against the court and the ofhcers of the court. jNIr. Palmer
was agent for the prosecutor. Mr. Ilaszard Avas asked if he
would disclose tlie authors of the publicaticjn complained of,
— which he agreed to do. The parties were Messrs. Stewart,
McGregor, Mabey, Dockendorff, Owen, and McDonald.
Addressing himself to Mr. Haszard, the chancellor said : " I
compassionate your youth and inexperience ; did I not do
so, 1 would lay you by the heels long enough for you to
remember it. You have delivered your evidence fairly,
plainly, clearly, and as became a man ; but I caution you,
when you publish anything again, keep clear, sir, of a
chancellor ! Beware, sir, of a chancellor ! " And with this
solemn admonition, Mr. Haszard was dismissed from the
bar.

But the rule of the chancellor was destined not to be of
much longer duration ; for on Thursday, the twenty-first of
October, 1824, His Excellency Colonel Ready, accompanied

REJOICINGS ON THE ABBIVAL OF COLONEL READY. GO

by Mr. Stewart, {irrivcd iu a Ijrig from Bri.stol, after a
pas^ajxe of twciity-ei*rlit (lav?j. '* He was loiidlv clieered on
laiuliii.i; by a great concourse of spectators, aud was received
on tbe wliarf bv a iiuard of tbe 81st rcijfiment and a number
of tbe most respectable inbabitants." A public meeting of
tbe inliabitants, called by tbe sberitf, Mr. AVilliam Pope, was
beld for tbe purpose of voting an address to tbe lieutenant-
governor. Colonel Holland, Mr. Hodgson, and Mr. Binns
were appointed to prepare it. " "We feel," said tbe inliabit-
ants, " tbe utmost confidence tbat tbe barmony wbicb ougbt
always to exist between tbe government and tbe people is
perfectly establisbed, and tbat your excellency will believe
tbat loyalty, obedience to tbe laws, and a love of ordi-r is
tbe cbaracter of tbe inliabitants of Cbarlottetown. "We
cannot omit on tbis occasion to express our unfeigned
ffratitude and tbauks for tbe attention wbich His Ma jest v
lias been jn'aciouslv pleased to pav to tbe interests of tbis
colonv, in confidin£r its jxovernment to your excellency's
bands, and to add our most fervent wisbes iliat your admin-
istration of it may be long and liappy." Tbe town was
illuminated in tbe evening, and, to tbe credit of tbe inliab-
itants of Cbarlottetown, tbe exuberance of joy and festivity
on tbe occasion was not marred by any impropriety, or
insult to tbe man wbo bad exercised bis functions witb a
liarsbness and tyranny wbich made bim tbe most uni)opular
governor wbo ever ruled on tbe island. The new governor
was entertained at dinner in tbe "Wellington Hotel. Jobn
Stewart was chairman, and the Honorable George "Wright
croupier. It is only fair to say, that an address was pre-
sented to tbe late governor, previous to bis embarkation for
England, signed by the members of council, principal oHicers
of government, and two justices of the peace. Considering
the character of Governor Smith's administration, there is a

70

HISTOIIV OF rUINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

spice of liuinor in the lollowin;; portion of his reply : *' I
assure you I must ever feel a liigli inliTest iu the prosperity
of a colony whose welfare, it is well known to many of you,
I have unceasin<j;ly watcheil over. It is my contident hope,
as well as my fervent wish, that the island may continue to
flourish under my successor, aided as he will he hy the same
sujiport and advice from which I have myself so much and
so generally beuetited."

'-^2^^^^

's.^jT^I^L^'

CIIAPTEP V.

GoTCiTior Ready ilesiros to govern constitutionally— Kucrgctic legislation —
Oeorsre Wripht, Aflininistratov — Chaiifrt' in lluMnofU^of l)ayingCiistniiihi>use
Onicials — Fire in Miianiichi— rotilions of liDnian Catholics to be relieved
from eivil disabilities — I'mceeiUnj^sof the Assembly touching the «|Uestioa
—Dispute between the Council and Assembly— Catholic Kuiancipatiou —
The Agricultural Society— Death of George the Fourth— Cobbctt on rrineo
Edward Island— Colonel Heady succeedeil by A. W. Young— The Census
—Death of Governor Young— Biographical Sketch of him.

t?'OVEnNOR SMITH (loH-hted in autocratical rule, and
^^^I had not called ttn assembly tof^ether since 1820 ; but
^- Governor IJcady, wisliin^j; to govern the island in a
more constitutional manner, summoned, on his accession to
oflice, a new house, ■svliich met in January, 1825, and pro-
ceeded to business Avith some degree of spirit and earnest-
ness. Acts were passed for the encouragcme: t of education,
for regidating juries and declaring their qualifications, for
regulating the fisheries, for limiting and declaring the juris-
diction of justices of the peace, for empowering the governor
to appoint commissioners to issue treasury notes to the extent
of five thousand pounds, and for increasing the revenue by
taxation. Another session of the house was held in October
of the same year, when the house displayed equal energy
and diligence in transacting the public business. John
Stewart was speaker, and the members elected for Char-
lottetown \\ere Robert Hodgson and Paul Mabey. Mr.
Samuel ^'elsoii was an unsuccessful candidate for the town.
He had been accused of not signing the address to the King,
praying for the recall of Governor Smith. In his reply to
that charge, Mr. Nelson stated a fact which shows the

72 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

inherent meanness of the late governor in his treatment of
the people. " Governor Smith," said Mr. Nelson, " never
did anything for me. On the contrary, he broke me as a
captain in the militia, and when I was pnttiug a porch to my
door he sent a loeremptory demand to pull it aivai/.^'

The governor returned to Eui'land towards the close of
the year, on private business, and during his abseuce the
government was administered by the Honorable George
Wright.

The officfji-s of customs received in this year official
instructions from the lords commissioners to discontinue the
exaction of fees after the fifth of January eusuiug, as fixed
salaries were to be granted to them, — a regulation which
extended to all the colonies.

In this year, eighteen vessels arrived at the island from
Great Britain, and one hundred and twenty-eight from the
British colonies. There were imported fifty-four thousand
gallons of rum, two thousand five hundred gallons of brandy,
three thousand gallons Geneva, and two thousand gallons of
wine, which, for a population of about twenty-three thousand,
was a large supply. The imports were valued at £85,337,
and the exports at £95,426.

In the autumn of 1825 an extensive and most destructive
fii'e took place in Miramichi, which swept over an immense
area, destroying timber, farm steadings, and cattle. Many
of the unfortunate inhabitants perished in the flames, and
hundreds were left destitute. A liberal collection was made
in the island /or the relief of the suffering, and a vessel
chartered to convey produce to the scene of the disaster.

The governor returned from England towards the close of the
year 1826, and again assumed the reins o^ government. The
house met in March following. In his opening address, the
governor congratulated the house on the improvements re-

MR. CAMEKON ON CIVIL DIZABILITIES. 4'd

cently made in the iiiteriuil commuiiirations of the country, —
the western Hue of road being completed up to Princctown,
and surveys having been made for extending the line to Cas-
cumpcc and the North Cape. His excellency also referred to
the advantages which would accrue from tlie er<tahlishment
of an agricultural society. Among other useful measures
passed during the session was one for ascertaining the popu-
lation of the island, and for authorizing the formation of a
fire engine company for Charlottetowu.

During the last session a petition was presented by the
Roman catholics of the island, praying that they should be
relieved from those civil disabilities under which they suf-
fered. Consideration of the important subject was at that
time deferred on account of the advanced period of the
session. The subject was now brought up by Mr. Cameron,
in a temperate and sensible speech, in which he stated that,
uotwith ending the predictions of persons hostile to the
prayer of the petitioners, not a single petition was presented
lo the house against the proposed change. Mr. Cameron
concluded by proposing the following resolution : " Resolved^
that it is the opinion of this house that the right of voting at
elections of members to serve in the general assembly
ought to be extended to His Majesty's subjects of t^ie
Roman catholic religion within the island, and that the
election laws should be altered conformable to this resolu-
tion." A long and animated discussloa took place, in which
the attorney general, Dr. McAulny, Mr, Ilcdgson, and others
supported it ; and Mr. Campbell, Mr. McNeill, and Mr.
Montgomery led in opposition. On the question being put,
the votes were equal ; but the speaker, Mr. Stewart, gave
the casting vote against the resolution, on the ground that
the question had not been settled in England. The speaker
was one of the most enlightened men in the assembly, and

74 niSTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

his tlocisioti on tliis occasion cannot be said to have been in
ticcordaucG with his general character. Had the resohition
passed, the assembly woukl have had the honor of being in
advance, on tiiis question, of the parliament of Great
Britain. As subjects of the Crown, the Roman catholics,
in asking to have a voice in the election of the legislature,
— whose laws they were bound to obey in common with
protestants, — claimed no favor, but a right which ought
never to have been withheld, and the subsequent concession
of which experience has proved to be as satisfactory in prac-
tice as it is equitable in principle. On the presentation of
the petition in 1825, a voluminous and very able correspon-
dence was carried on in the columns of the Begister, in the
conduct of which the best talent in the island, on both the
catholic and protestant sides, was enlisted. Theological
questions, that had no bearing on the subject in dispute,
were, unhappily, imported into the controversy ; and, what-
ever difference of opinion may exist as to the discus.^ion in
its religious aspect, there can be none as to the fact of every
argument advanced against the Roman catholic s right *o be
put on an ccpial footing witli the protestant in all matters
appertaining to civil and religious liberty, being completely
demolished by the accoraplislied advocates of the Roman
catholic claims. While the elaborate communications to
which we have referred were imbued on both sides with
considerable bitterness, yet, to the credit of the island com-
batants, it may be truly said that such bitterness was sweet-
ness itself compared with the venom characteristic of similar
controversies, as carried on at this period in other places.
Fidelity to historical accuracy, at the same time, constrains
lis to state that, while on the part of catholics, as the
aggrieved party, whose rights were tyranically and persist-
ently disregarded, paroxysms of irritation wore the natural

DISPUTE BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE ASSEMBLY. /O

result of oppression, no such apolo^ry can to the same extent
be offered in behalf of their opponents.

In October, 1825, the council passed a resolution to the
effect that they would not in future be disposed to give their
assent to any bill for appropriating money, unless the sums
and services therein contained should be submitted in separ-
ate resolutions for their concurrence. This resolution was
not agi'eeable to the assembly, who claimed the sole right of
originating all money bills, and who denied the right of the
-council to alter or amend them. This difference of opinion
led to a protracted controversy. In May, 1827. the council
sent a message to the assembly, in which the question was
elaborately argued, to which the assembly returned an
equally elaborate reply. The dir^pute resulted, in 1827, in
the council agreeing to the two principal bills of supply, and
rejecting an ad valorem duty bill ; but in the following
session — that of 1828 — the appropriation bill was rejected
by the council, which obliged the governor to confine the
tixpenditure of the year to purposes of necessity. In meet-
ing the house, in 1829, tlie governor expressed the hope that
the unfortunate dispute of the last session would be brought
to an amicable adjustment, and recommended a system of
mutual compromise as the most effectual mode of securing
that object. Although the council had resolved to transact
no further business with the assembly until the latter body
expunged a previous resolution from their journals con-
taining certain imputations on the council, yet the house
had refused to do so. Business commimication was, how-
ever, resumed, and continued as if nothing had happened.

On the sixth of January, 1825, died Benjamin Chappell,
late postmaster of the island, in the eighty-seventh year of
his age. He and his brother William emigrated from Eug-
land iu the ypar 1775. They owned one of the first packets

7G HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

that sailofl between Chariot tetown and the mainland. lie
saw the country in its rude and wilderness state, and was
an attentive observer of all the vicissitudes it underwent in
its gradual progress towards improvement, and few took a
deeper interest in its prosperity. lie was a man of sterling
piety, actively devoted to the cause of religion, and may
with truth be considered the founder of the present Metho-
dist establishment of the island. He was personally known
and beloved by John Wesley, who was in the habit of
corresponding with him for many years ; and it atfordeu
Mr. Chappell much dejight to detail to his friends many-
interesting anecdotes that gre ' out of his intimacy Avith
that great and good man. He was brought up to the mill-
wright business, and was well acquainted with machinery in
all its extensive branches. He was a man of intelligence
and strong mind, and, with a perfect knowledge of his own
business, possessed a great deal of useful informatio^i. If a
life of consistent piety, as expressed in the virtues that dignify
human nature, can cudoar a man to society, the memory of
Benjamin Chappell will be long and affectiquately cherished
in the island.

In the session of 1829 a select committee of assembly, for
preparing a specific plan on Avhich a bill might be founded
for promoting classical education, presented their report,
recommending the establishment of a classical academy in
Charlottetoui:, to be designated the " Central Academy,"
vesting the management in a patron and nine trustees. Two
masters were to be employed, each to receive a salary of
o'aC hundred and fifty jiounds a year ; and no religious test
w^as to be permitted. A bill in conformity with these rec-
ommendations was accordingly introduced and sanctioned.

The most important act passc. n the session of 1830 was
one " for the relief of His Majesty's Roman catholic sub-

DEATH OF GEORGE THE FOURTH. 77

jects." The agitation for the removal of the disabilities
imtler which the lloiiian catholics suffered ia the old countiy
resulted in catholic emancipation ; and the British govern-
ment recommended the adoption of similar measures in tlie
jcolonies, Avhich recommendation weakened unreasonable
opposition to the change. The act now passed provided that
all statutes which imposed on Roman catholics civil or
political disabilities should be repealed, and that all civil
and military olFices and places of trust or profit should be as
open to them as to other portions of the King's subjects.

The agricultural society, which had been for some time
in operation in the island, was active in accomplishing the
beneficent purposes for which it was established : it en-
couraged improved stock by an annual exhibition and pre-
miums, and imported seeds. District societies were formed
at Saint Eleanor's and Princetown. The governor took a
practical interest in the operations of the society, of which
the Honorable George Wright was president ; the Honor-
able T. H. Haviland, vice-president ; and Mr. Peter Mac-
Go wan, secretary and treasurer.

In August, 1830, intelligence of the death of Kinir George
the Fourth, which had occurred on the twenty-sixth of June,
reached the island. The reiga of His Majesty lasted about
ten years and a half; but, including his regency, he was at
the head of the government more than nineteen years. He
was succeeded by William the Fourth.

The ignorance which in our days prevails in the old
country respecting the American colonies is not quite so
deplorable as that which existed at the period of the island
history at which we have now arrived. It may amuse the
reader to learn what the celebrated Cobbett thought at this
time of Prince Edward Island, as a home for emigrants,
and of the kind of business that was prosecuted there :
" From Glasgow," wrote Cobbett, " the sensible Scots are

78 HISTORY OF TRINCE F.DWARD ISLAND.

pouring out amain. Those that are poor, and cannot pay
their passage, or can rake together only a trifle, are
going to a rascally heap of sand, rock and swamp, called
Prince Edward Island, in the horrihle Gulf of Saint Law-
rence ; but when tlie American vessels come over v.ith Indian
corn and flour and ])ork and beef and poultry and eggs
and butter, and cabbages, and green pease, and asparagus
for the soldier, and other tax-eaters that we support upon that
lump of worthlessness, — for the lump itself bears nothing but
potatoes, — when these vessels return, the sensible Scots will
go back in them for a dollar a head, and not a man of them
will be left but bed-ridden persons." If such are the
doctrines which were taught to the people of Britain by
men like Cobbett, what must have been the depth of ignor-
ance respecting the North American colonies which pervaded
the masses? The very articles which the islanders were
prepared to export to the states, if an inlet for them were
permitted, were the articles which the foolish grammarian
imagined they were importing. He little thought that in
the capital of this island of "rock" a cargo of whinstones
would be very acceptable, and find ready sale.

In September, 1831, Colonel Ready was relieved from the
government of the island by tlie arrival of Lieutenant-
Colonel A. W. Young. The departure of Colonel Ready
was deeply regretted by the people. His administration was
distinguished by activity, energy, and usefulness, constituting
a striking contrast to that of his predecessor. During his
retention of oflRce there was a large increase of the popula-
tion. From the year 1829 to 1831, eighteen hundred and
forty-four emigrants had arrived, and new life was infused
into the commerce and agriculture of the island.

In January, 1832, Governor Young met the house of
assembly for the first time. There was a dread of cholera,
DOW raging in Europe, which led to the passing of a measure

DEATH OF JOHN STEWART. 7^

in the assembly '* to prevent the spread of iufoctious dis-
eases." A day of fasting was appointed in tlie montli of
May, and, happily, the ishmd was not visited by a pestilence
wliich, in other places, laid tens of thousands in the grave..
In this year an act was also passed to provide for tlie con-
veyance of the mails between Charlottetown and Pictou, by
a steam vessel, a grant of three hundred pounds yearly
having been voted for that purpose. The service was ac-
cordingly performed by the Steamer Pocahontas^ which ran
twice a week to Pict<ju, — the cabin passage-money being
twelve shillings currency. In the following year the census
was taken, from which it appeared that the population of
the island, which, in 1827, had l)een twenty-three thousand,
had increased to thirty-two thoit^and. An act was also
passed in this year by which the duration of the assembly
was reduced from the period of seven to that of four years.

In May, 1834, Governor Young went to England, whence
he returned in September, as Sir Aretas W. Young. In
June of the same year died John Stewart, of INIount Stewart,
at the age of seventy- six. He came to the Island in 1778.
He was speaker of the house of assembly for a number of
years, and was one of the most useful public men of his
day. We have read much of his private and official cor^
respondence, which has led us to form a high opinion of his
integrity, industry, and zeal. His book on the island, pub-^
lished in 1806, is a reliable work, so far as facts are con-
cerned, though not written with the grace and freedom
which distinguished the letters of his contemporary, John
Stuart, the London agent of the island.

A general election took place towards the close of 1834,
and the new house met in January, 1835. A dispute arose
between the assembly and the council, respecting the revenue
bills, which led to the necessary supplies not being granted^.

80 IIISTOllY OF rUINCE KT^WARD ISLAND.

init after a short interval the governor convoked the assem-
bly in April, and as the result of a previous informal
conforonc'o bctwocn the disputants, it was arranged that the
revenue bill should be separated from the appropriation bill,
— as a solution of the dilficulty, — and tluis the dispute termi-
nated. In consof[ueu(*e of the illness of his excellency, the
session of one week's duration was prorogued by a commis-
sion, who were desired to express to the assembly his excel-
lency's pleasure at the satisfactory termination of its labors.
On Tuesday, the first of December, 1835, Ilis Excellency
Sir Aretas William Young died at his official residence in
Charlottetown. At the age of seventeen he obtained an
ensigncy, by purchase, in Podmore's regiment, and a
company, by purchase, in the 13th foot, in 1796. He
served with the 13th regiment, in Ireland during the re-
bellion, and was present with that corps, under the com-
mand of Sir Charles Colville, in every memorable action
fought in Egy})t imder the gallant Sir Ralph Abercrombie,
in 1801, for which he received a medal. lie was sub-
sequently^ employed for several years in Sirily and
Gibralter, as aide-de-camp to General the Honorable Henry
Edward Cox, the commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean.
He was promoted, in 1807, to be major in the 97th regiment,
then commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Lyon,
and served with the 4th division, under Lieutenant-General
Sir LoAvry Cole, in the Peninsular campaigns of 1808, and
in subsequent years was engaged in the battles of Vimiera,
Talavera and Busaco, and *u the first siege of Badajoz.
Whenever the division was in movement, the light companies
were entrusted to his charge, and during a part of the retreat
of the army from the frontiers of Portugal to the lines of
Torres Vedras, tlicse companies were embodied under his
* command as a liglit battalion.

SKETCH OF GOVERNOR YOUNG. 81

In an aifair Avith the enemy at Toln'al, near Lisbon, his
horse was shot dead under him ; and it lias been remarked
by a distingnislied fjeneral otHcer that, on every occasion, in
every ditiicuhy and in many hours of trial, the example he
set, the steps he trod, led the men cheerfully and fearlessly
to do their duty. The l)7th, owing to its thinned ranks,
having been ordered to England, he was promoted, in 1813,
to a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 3rd West India Regiment,
stationed at Trinidad ; and, with live companies of that
corps, was sent to join the expedition against Guadaloupe
in 1815, and received one of the badges of the Order of
Merit, })resented by Louis the Eighteenth. On his return to
Trinidad, he was selected by Sir James Leith to command
the troops in Granada ; and, on leaving the regiment in
1815, received a letter, accompanied with a piece of plate,
from the officers, expressive of their unfeigned feelings of
regard and esteem for the comfort and happiness experienced
under his command. On his being ordered back to Trinidad,
in 1816, he was voted the thanks of the council and assembly
of Granada, with a sword valued at one hundred guineas.
During the absence, in 1820, of Governor Sir Ralph Wood-
ford from Trinidad, he administered the government for four
months ; and in consideration of the advantage which the
community had derived during that period by his being a
memb^^r of the council, was requested still to continue a
member, — to which he acceded, subject to the approval of
the commander of the forces, who, in giving his consent,
remarked, that in whatever situation Lieut. -colonel Young
might be placed, the public service would be benefited. In
1823, in again giving up the government, which he had held
for two years, — during a second absence of the same gov-
ernor,— he was presented with four addresses, namely, one
from the council, one from the Board of Cabildo, — with a

82 insTOUY OF PHIXCE EDWAUl) ISLAND.

vote of one liuinlrcd and fifty guineas to pur(;}iasc a sword,
and with tlic request that lie would sit for his portrait, to be
j)laeed in their hall as a token of their sense of the etUeient
manner in which he had ])resided over that hoard, and to
leeord their opinion of the moderation, steadiness, and ability
which, on all occasions, marked his administration ; one
from the inhabitants, with a piece of plate, to reconl their
gratitu<le for the integrity an<l im))artiality of his govern-
ment ; and one from the colored inliabitants, acknowledging
their deep sense of the prudence, moderation, and humanity
which distinguished his administration of the government.

On the final disbandmcut of the >U\ West India Regiment,
1!! the beginning of 1825, he was waited on by a deputation
of the inhabitants of Trinidad, with a farewell address, and
with the request of his acceptance of a })iece of plate of the
value of two hundred and fifty sovereigns. lie was appointed
in 1H2G to the newly-created olHce of His Majesty's IVotector
of Slaves in the colony of Demerara, — the arduous duties of
which he conscientiously performed for five years. lie
retired from the army, by the sale of his commission, in
May, 182G, and was allowed by His Majesty, on the recom-
mendation of the commander-in-chief, to retain the local
rank of lieutenant-colonel in the West Indies, in considera-
tion of the value of his services, and of the zeal, intelligence,
and gallantry with which he had discharged every duty.
He was gazetted, as already stated, to be governor of Prince
Edward Island, on tlie twenty-fifth of July, I83l ; and in con-
sequence of the favorable opinion entertained by the King of
his merits, communicated in a despatch from Lord Stanley,
His Majesty conferred on him, on the ninth of July, 1834,
the honor of knighthood.

At the period of his death he was in the tifty-cighth year
of his age, and had thus terminated an honorable career of
forty-one years in the King's service.

C HATTER VI.

George WriKl't. Administrator— Court of P>chc!it rofusod— Central Acatleniy
— Severe Krosl in S<'))teuilK'r — I>eath of William t!ie Fonrlii— Kdncali .ual
Condition of the l!«laiid— Forrible Resistance to Hent-paym;;— KelK'!lio;i in
Canada — Able iicjtort of (Committee of Legislature on Land t^neslion — Tliu
Coronation o| (^iieen Victoria — McM-hanics' Institute tbrmed — Lord Duriiatn
on Land (Question — The formation of an F]xe<'utive, .separate from a Legis-
lative Council ordered — Mr. Cooper a delegate to Loinlon.

<;'-

fN tliG death of riovernor Yoiiij;^, the Iloiioruhle George
Wrii'lit wa.s sworn in a.s a«hniiiistrator of the ;;()Vi'ni-
i^t^ meiit until tlic aj)i)ointment of a new ;xovernor. In
February, 18.j(3, Colonel Sir John Harvey wa.'^ appointed
governor, and arrived in tlie i.sland in Aucrti.-^t, wlun the
u.sual addie.s.se.s of welcome were })re.sented. There had
been a popidar agitation for some time for the establi.>^hment
of a court of escheat, and de.'^patches were received from the
colonial secretary intimating that the prayer of certair) peti-
tions, presented to IIi.s Majesty on the subject, could not be
granted. As we intt^nd to devote, at a more advanced stage
of the narrative, a clia})ler to the elucidation of the land
question, we refrain at present from any lengthened remarks
on the subject.

In January of this year the Central Academy was opened.
Its first teachers were the Rev. Charles Loyd and Mr..
Alexander Brown, formerly teacher of the grammar school.
Mr. Loyd, having retired on account of ill health, was
succeeded by the Rev. James Waddell, son of the Rev.
John Waddell, of Truro, N. S.

The governor made a tour through the island for the
purpose of becoming acquainted w-ith its principal inhabit-

$i^ HISTORY. OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ants, and observing its capabilities and re?" .rces. He was
received everywhere with that degree of respect to which
his position entitled him ; and, in replying to the numerous
addresses presented, expressed himself as highly gratified
by the hospitality of the people, and the indications of pro-
gress manifested. ,

On the seventh of September, 1837, a frost of unprece-
dented severity for the season set in, by which the potato crop
was greatly injured, and cereals were much damaged. Thus
the prospect of a plentiful harvest was blighted in a night
throughout the entire island. The loss thus sustained was
referred to by the governor on opening the assembly in the
spring following ; and he called attention to the expediency
of granting pecuniary aid for the purpose of supplying seed-
grain and potatoes to such of the sufferers as required them.

In March, 1837, Colonel Sir J. Harvey, after being pro-
moted to the rank of major general, was appointed Gov-
ernor of New Brunswick, for which province he left towards
the close of May. After the departure of the governor, the
Honorable George Wright, as senior member of the council,
took the oath of office, as administrator of the government
until the arrival of Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, who was
appointed to succeed Sir John Harvey. The new governor
arrived in June.

On the twentieth of June, William the Fourth died. In-
telligence of His Majesty's death reached the island towards
the close of July. On the twenty-first of July, Queen
Victoria was proclaimed in London.

The first official visitor of schools was appointed this
year, in the person of Mr. John McNeill, who, in his report for
the year, gave the number of schools in the three counties
as fifty-one, and the number of scholars as fifteen hundred
and thirty-three. In his report, Mr. McNeill gives us an

SETTLEBS' DIFFICULTIES. 9&

interesting peep at the educational condition of the country
at this period, specifying the various causes to which the ex-
treme deficiency of tiie educational macliinery was attribut-
able. In many of the settlements the inhabitants were
poor, and having to struggle with iiumerous ditliculties in
procuring subsistence for their children, their education was
regarded as a matter of secondary importanv-e. Little en-
couragement was, in most cases, held out to teachers of
character and qualification, and the precarious mode in which
their salaries were paid operated powerfully as a bar in the
way of educational advancement. Hence it not unfre-
quently happened, when the necessary litcniry attainments
wore wanting, that it was only persons of ship>vrecked
cliaiixter, and blasted prospects in life, who had assumed
the important office of schoolmaster. " I must also men-
tion," reported Mr. McNeill, " another practice which is
too prevalent in the country, and which, I conceive, is ex-
ceedingly injurious to the respectability of the teacher in the
eyes of his pupils, and, consequently, hurtful to his useful-
ness,— that is : receiving his board by going about from
house to house ; in w^hich case he is regarded, both by
parents and children, as little better than a common menial."
Mr. McNeill's suggestions, by way of reformation, were
judicious and well put. He held the situation of visitor for
ten years, and seems to have been well qualified for the
post. When he vacated the situation, in 1847, there were
one hundred and twenty schools, of all grades, and over
rive thousand scholars.

The new governor visited all the principal districts of the
island, and, as the result of his inquiries and observations,
addressed a circular to the proprietors of land, in which he
advocated tbf granting of important concessions to the
tenantry, wnh a view of allaying the agitation for escheat,

86 HISTORY OF PlilNOE EDWARD ISLAND.

and removing any just grounds of complaiut. The governor
stated to the proprietors that it was impossible for any one,
unacquainted vvith the local circumstances of a new colony,
to form a correct estimate of the ditRculties and privations
which the past settlors on Avihlerness lands had to encounter.
He said it was a long series of years before he could obtain
from the soil more than a bare subsistence for himself and
his family, notwithstanding the most unwearied perseverance
and industry. It ought not, therefore, to be matter for sur-
prise that, although he might be ready and willing to pay a
fair equivalent, either in rent or otlierwise, for the land
occupied, he should feel dismayed at the prospect of being
deprived of the harf^ earned fruits of the labor of the earliest
and best years of iiis manhood, whether from an accumula-
tion of heavy arrears of rent, which he was unable to realize
from the land, or from the refusal of the proprietor to grant
him a tenure of sufficient endurance to ensure to his family
.the profits of his industry ; and this, probably, in the decline
of life, with a constitution broken, and health impaired by
incessant toil. In these circumstances it could not be matter
for surprise that he should be discontented with his lot, or that
he should instil hostile feelings into the minds of his family,
and be ready to lend a willing ear to proposals, however
fallacious, which held out a hope of relief.

After alluding to the fact, that the high sheriff of King's
County had been recently resisted by a considerable body of
armed men, while engaged in enforcing an execution on a
judgment obtained in the supreme court for rent, and had
his horses barbarously mutilated, he recommended, as a re-
medy for the evil, that land-agents should have a discretion-
ary power to relieve tenants of arrears of rents, in cases
where it was impossible they could ever pay them ; and that
long leases should be granted at the rate customary in the

PEBELLION IN CANADA. 87

colony, tlio rent to be payable in the productions of tlie soil
ut the market prices. He al>*o recommemlod that, in cases
Avhere long leases were objected to, the tenants should be
allowed to purchase the fee simple at twenty years' purchase,
or that payment for their improvements, at a fair valuj tion,
should be ensured on the expiration of their terms.

The governor forwarded a copy of the circular containing
these reasonable suggestions to the secretary of state for the
colonies. This mode of dealing with the tenantry, it may
be here remarked, had already, in numerous instances, been
acted upon with the best results, so that the elhcieicy of the
change recommended in securing harmony between landlord
and tenant had been most satisfactorily tested.

Towards the close of 1837, a rebellion broke out in
Canada. The insurgents mustered in considerable numbers,
but without sutiicient organization, and their leaders — utterly
incompetent and cowardly — were the first to escape after a
few shots wfTo fired. Tiie militia of the island oifered their
services in vindication of the King's authority ; but the
troops in Canada were quite sufficient to extinguish the
rebellion, ere it had attained to any formidable dimensions.

The j:!olonial secretary. Lord Glenelg, transmitted to the
governor the copy of a memorial from the proprietors of
land, protesting against the royal assent being given to an
act of the legislature of the island for levying an assess-
ment on all lands in the island, and demanding an oppor-
tunity of stating their objections to it, by their counsel,
before the judicial committee of the privy council. This
document was referred to a joint committee of the legisla-
tive council and assembly, >vho, in April, 1838, produced
an able and elaborate report in justification of the law.
The committee, of which T. H. Havilaud, R. Hodgson,
John Brecken, Joseph Pope, Edward Palmer, and others

$8 HISTORY .OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

were members, showed tluit the local expenditure of the
government for the last twelve years had been £107,643, of
which £27,506 had been expended on roads and bridges, to
the great advantage of the property of the memorialists ;
£13,556 on public buildings and wharfs ; and £66,562 for
other local purposes. And of these large sums, the whole
amount contributed by the proprietors of the soil had been
only £7,413, leaving the balance of £100,000 to be borne
by the resident consumers of dutiable articles. The com-
mittee fortified their position by extracts from despatches
sent by Lords Stanley and Glenelg, and completely justified
the imposition of a tax of four shillings currency on wilder-
ness lands. The report, when printed, occupied upwards of
five newspaper columns, set in minion type, and bore striking
evidence of the industry and ability of its framers.

It appears from a despatch from Lord Durham, then
governor general of British North America, whicli we found
at Government House in Charlottetown, and whicli was not
published either at the time or subsequently, that Lord
Glenelg forwarded this able report, along with other docu-
ments bearing on the subject of escheat, in September, 1838,
to his lordship, for the purpose of obtaining his special opinion
on the subject, for the guidance of the home government.
It is scarcely necessary to premise, before giving this impor-
tant state document, that Lord Durham is considered the
highest authority on those colonial subjects of which he
treats in his celebrated report, — a document which will
stand for successive generations as a lasting monument of
his ability as a statesman, and which has been and is now
recognized as embodying the most masterly exposition of
colonial questions which has ever been published.

despatch from loud durham. 89

"Castle of Saint Lewis, Quebec,
8th October, 183().

"My Lord. — I Imve had tlie honor of receiving? your despatch
of the fifth October, whereby you tle.sh'c that I will express to
you my jud<^uieiit on the whole subject of escheat in the Island
of Prince Edward. After perusinf)^ the voluminous documents
with your lordship's despatch, I do not feel that if: is in my
I)Ower to add anything- to the very full inibiniation on the sub-
ject which these documents comprise. The information before
me is now so ample that upon no matter of fact can I entertain
a doubt. Nearly the whole island was alienated in one daj- by
the Crown, in very lar<»e grants, chiefly to absentees, and upon
conditions of settlement which have been wholly disregarded.
The extreme improvidence— I mig^ht say the reckless profusion —
which dictated these grants is obvious : the total neglect of the
government as to enforcing the conditions of the grants is not
less so. The great bulk of the island is still held by absentees,
who liold it as a sort of reversionary interest which requires no
present attention, but may become vr.luable some day or other
through the growing want of the inhabitants. But, in the
meantime, the inhabitants of the island are subjected to the
greatest inconvenience — nay, the most serious injurj' — from the
state of the i^roperty in land. The absent proprietors neither
improve the land themselves, nor will let others improve it.
They retain the land and keep it in a state of wilderness. Your
lordship can scarcely conceive the degree of injury inflicted on
a new settlement heuimed in by wilderness land, which has
been placed out of the control of government, and is entirely
neglected by its absent proprietors. This evil pervades British
North America, and has been for many years jiast a subject of
universal and bitter complaint. The same evil was felt in many
of the states of the American Union, where, however, it has
been remedied by taxation of a penal character, — taxation, I
mean, in the nature of a fine for the abatement of a nuisance.
In Prince Edward Island this evil has attained its maximum.
It has been long and loudly complained of, but wiib^^Mt any
effect. The people, their representative assembly, the la-

tive council, and the governor have cordially conct in

devising a remedy for it. All their efforts have proved ik ain.

t)0 inSTOUY OF rUINCE EDWAUD ISLAND.

Some influence — it cannot be tliat of equity or reason — has
steadily counteracted the measures of the colonial legislature.
I cannot ima;^lne it is any other influence than that of the
absentee proprietors resident in En<(land; and in sayin<^ so I
do but express the universal opinion of the colony. The only
question, therefore, as it appears to nie, is whether that influence
shall prevail against the deliberate acts of the colonial legisla-
ture pnd the universal conii)laints of the sulTenng colonists. I
can have no doubt on the subject. My decided opinion is, that
the royal assent should no longer be withheld from the act of
the colonial legislature.

'• At the same time, I doubt whether this act will prove a
Rufflcient remedy for the evil in question. It was but natural
t'lat the colonial legislature — who have found it imix)ssible as
yet to obtain any remedy whatever — should hesitate to propose
a sufficient one. Undeterred by any such consideration, —
relying on the cordial cooperation of the government and par-
liament in tlie work of i aproving the state of the colonies, — I
hfid intended, before the receipt of your lordship's despatch,
and still intend, to suggest a measure whioh, while it provides a
sufficient remed}'' for the evil suffered by the colonists, shall also
prove advantageous to the absent proprietors by rendering their
property more valuable. Whether the inhabitants of Prince
Edward Island prefer waiting for the now uncertain results of
a suggestion of mine, or that the act which they have passed
should be at once confirmed, I cannot tell ; but I venture earn-
estly to recommend that Her Majesty's government should be
guided by their wishes on the subject; and in order to ascertain
these, I propose to transmit a copy of the present despatch to
Sir Charles FitzRoy, with a request that he will, after consulting
with the leading men of the colony, address your lordship on
the subject.

'* >Virh lespect to the terms proposed by the proprietors, I
am clearly of opinion that any such arrangement would be
wholly inadequate to the end in view.

T::;--; r -;^ -?----- "lam, &c., ' -^-:^-v:'_--
^^ ' "Durham.

"Lord Glenelg." -^^ ---^ -~ -£^-^ :ii

LOUD Durham's despatch. 91

The reference in the « ' 'f<ing ])aragra|)li of the despatcli is
-evidently to a memorainluni of terms proposed hy the pro-
prietors for the sale and settlement of land in the island, and
forwarded to Lord Genelg hy Mr. vl. R. Young, their
talented solicitor and counsel, in January, 1838.

The very decided opinion expressed by Lord Durham led
to the confirmation hy Her Majesty of the act passed iu
1837 for levying an assessment on all lands in the isl nd,
which confirmation \\as effected at a meeting of the privy
council, held on the twelfth of December, 1838 ; but his
lordship's despatch was not communicated to the assembly
by tlio governor. Its publication Avould have gratified the
inhabitants of the island, and mightily strengthened the
agitation Avhich had been prosecuted for so many years with
^o comparatively little success.

Lord Durham, in his report, has repeated many of the
arguments contained in the despatch which we have given,
and the valuable evidence given by John W. Le Lacheur,
Robert Hodgson, — now Sir Robert, — Sir Charles FitzRoy,
George Wright, Thomas Haviland, John Lawson, and G. R.
Goodman is published as a portion of the appendix to His
Lordship's report, — evidence which presents a clear and
most reliable account of the land question, and exhibits
within a moderate compass, with startling effect, the evils
which had their origin in the reckless disposal of the island
to non-resident proprietors, who disregarded the conditions
on which it had been granted.

The coronation of Her Majesty the Queen took place on
the twenty-eighth of June, and the event was celebrated in
Charlottetown in a manner becoming the loyalty of the
inhabitants. The prison doors were thrown open and the
debtors set free. A plentiful repast was provided for the
poorer classes, of which they joyfully availed themselves.

92 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The city was illuminated in the eveninj^, and larn^c bonfires
kindled. At a county meeting, held in the court-house, a
onji^ratulatory address to the Queen was adopted, and for-
warded to London by the governt»r.

Towards the close of the year 1838, a Mechanics* Insti-
tute was established in Charlottetown, mainly through the
instrumentality of Mr. Charles Young, — now the Honor-
able Judge Young, LL. ; The introductory lecture, which
was subsequently published in the Gazette^ was delivered by
that gentleman. The Lieutenant-governor, Lady Mary Fitz-
Roy, the chief justice, and a large number of the leading
people of the town were present. A course of lectures was
thus inaugurated which for many years furnished entertain-
ment and instruction to those who availed themselves of the
privilege of attendance. In Charlottetown, as well as in "
other towns, there is a good deal of latent talent which
might be beneficially elicited in the delivery of lectures
during the winter evenings. It not unfrequently happens
that lectiire-committees apply for lecturers in quarters where
more able ones than can be found with themselves do not exist.
"'Ti3 distance lends encliantmei't fo the view."

In the year 1838, the chief of the Micmac tribe presented
a petition to the governor, praying for a grant of land to his
tribe, which he represented as consisting of five hundred
souls. This number seems to have been exaggerated ; for
the governor, in writing to Lord Glenelg, in reply to an
application for information, states that the number of
Indians on the island did not exceed two hundred. The
governor recommended a grant of Lennox Island — the
property of Mr. David Stewart — to the tribe.

Two sessions of the assembly were held in 1839. Whilst
the first was proceeding with the public business, a despatcL
arrived ordering the governor to form an executive, separate

MB. cooler's mission TO ENGLAND. OS

from a lefrislativo council. He immediately proroj^ued the
bou«e, and made the necessary nominations to hoth the
councils. Tiie house again met in !March, in order to com-
plete the business which remained unfinished at the recent
prorogation. During the short interval which had elapsed
since the termination of the late session, intelligence had
reached the governor that active measures had been taken
by the State of Maine to enforce by arms their alleged
claims to the territory in dispute between ihat state and the
province of New Brunswick. The season of the year did
not admit of any active assistance being rendered in the
emergency ; but the island authorities determined to respond
to the feelings and sentiments expressed by the council and
assembly of the neighboring province of Nova Scotia.

W. Cooper was the speaker of the house of assembly in
1839, and was sent as a delegate to London on tiie laud
question. Three propositions were made on the subject,
namely, the establishment of a court of escheat ; the resump-
tion by the Crown of the rights of the proprietors ; and a
heavy penal tax on wilderness land. The home government
rejected the project of escheat, and did not feel at liberty to
recommend the advcince of two hundred thousand pounds
from the treasury. With respect to the third proposal, Lord
John Russell, the colonial secretary, expressed his unwilling-
ness to adopt it at the moment, so soon after the imposition
of a tax of the same description, and until it had been clearly
proved that no remedy was to be expected from the imposition
of that tax, and from the disposition of the proprietors to
come to an equitable arrangement with the tenantry. The
colonial secretary declined to discuss the question with Mr.
Cooper, and made his decision known, through the governor
of the island, in a despatch dated the seventeenth of Sep-
tember, 1839, in which he expressed his approval of the

94

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

terms proposed by the proprietor?, throuj^h their agent, Mr^
Young, recommending tliem as the basis on which Ilcr
Majesty's government desired that the question should be

arranged.

■:.1>^-Uj^t ^^/V--",. > ■■■■ -y

:_yV -■A*.^*ft. .'>

CHAPTER VII.

MarrinKO of the Queen— ?Miication in lRi2 — Foundation-stone of the Colonia t
lUiilding laid— The (iovciuor withdraws his patronage from rnldic Insti-
tutions— Dispute l)cl\vc'en the tJovernor a;ul Mr. Pope — Election dis-
turbances in Belfast— The Currency Que!<tion— Responsible Government
discussed— Governor Huntley succeeded by Sir I>onnld Campbell— Earl
Greys reason for withholding Uesponsiblo Government — The «loath of
Sir Donald CanipbeM- Ambrose Lane, Administrator- Sir \. Bannernian»
Governor — Uespon^ible Guvernment introduced — Temperance movement
— The loss of the " Fairy Queen "— Dissolulion of the Assembly — Gov-
ernor Bannerman succeeded bj' Dominick Dalj' — The Worrel Estate
bought by the Government— J. Henry Haszavd perishes in the ice Uoat —
Census of 18.')5 — A loan wanted — The Imperial Guarantee promised, bnt
not given — Ue«olutions praying for a Commission on the Land Question —
Charles Young, Administrator— Biogranhical Sketch of Bishop McDonald
—Death of James Peake.

;N February, 1840, tlie Queen was united in marriage to
Prince Albert, of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and in Novem-
^ ber of the same year the Prince^is Royal was born. In-,
telligeuce of an attempt to assassinate the Queen reached
the Island towards the end of July. The culprit was a lad
named Edward Oxford, a servant out of place. As Her
Majesty, accompanied by Prince Albert, was proceeding in
a carriage for the purpose of paying a visit to the Duchess
of Kent, at her residence in Belgrave Square, they were
fired upon by Oxford, who held a pistol in each hand, both of
which he discharged. The shots did not, however, take
effect, and it was subsequently discovered that the youth
was insane. ,>•-.■--,-.■• ,.^ .r:^-;-' ■ ■.--■{}..., ••■-■-■■ ^^i;:---^ .

The governor. Sir Charles A. FitzRoy, having been appoint-'
ed to the West Indies, he was succeeded by Sir Henry Vere
Huntley, who arrived in November, 1841, and received the
usual welcome. . In March of the year following died the Hon-

96 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

orable Gcorjre Wright. lie had been five times administra-
tor of the government, a duty which devolved upon liim as
senior member of the council, to which he had been appoint-
ed in 1813. lie also, for many years, filled the office of
surveyor-general. He appears to have discharged his duties
conscientiously, and his death was regretted by a large
circle of friends.

In February, 1842, Mr. John McNeill, visitor of schools,
presented his report, which furnished interesting facts re-
specting the progress of education in the island. In 1833
the number of schools was seventy-four, — in 1841 they had
increased to one hundred and twenty-one. While the num-
ber of schools had increased in this ratio, the number of
children attending them had in the same period been more
than doubled. >^

Total Population.

No. of Schools. No. of Scholars.

i

Average Attendance
in each school.

In 1833—32,293 1 74
In 1841-74,034 1 121

2176
4356

29.4
36

In November, 1842, Mr. John Ings started a weekly
newspaper, designated The Islander^ which fully realized
in its conduct the promises made in the prospectus. For
thirty-two years it continued an important public organ,
when, for reasons into which it is not our business to in-
quire, it was discontinued.

In March, 1843, a serious disturbance took place in town-
ship forty-five, King's County, when a large j.^semblage of
people forcibly reinstated a person named Baney into the
possession of a farm from which he had been legally ejected.
The dwelling-house of a person employed by the proprietor
to protect timber was also consumed by fire, resulting from
the torch of an incendiary. Energetic measures were
adopted to enforce the majesty of the law.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE COLONIAL BUILDING. 97

On the sixteenth of May, 1843, the corner stone of the
colonial building vas laid by the Governor, Sir Henry Vere
Huntley. A procession was formed at government house,
and moved in the following order: masons, headed bv a
band of music ; then followed the governor on horseback,
surrounded by his staff'; after whom came the chief justice,
the members of the executive and legislative councils, the
building committee, the various heads of departments, the
magistracy, — the members of the Independent Temperance
Society bringing up the rear. Having, with trowel and
mallet, gone through the ceremony. His Excellency said :
'^ The legislature having granted means for the erection cf
a provincial building, and the corner stone having been now
laid, I trust that a new era of prosperity will open in this
colony, and am satisfied that the walls about to rise over
this stone will resound with sentiments expressive of British
feeling, British principles, and British loyalty." A royal
salute WAS then fired, and three hearty cheers for the Queen
were given by hundreds who had collected to witness the
proceedings. The design was drafted by Isaac Smith,
President of the Mechanics' Institute, and the building was
to be composed of freestone, imported from Nova Scotia, —
the estimated cost being nearly eleven thousand pounds
currency. : : ;

At the annual meeting of the Central Agricultural So-
ciety, a letter was read from Mr. T. H. Haviland, intimating
that in consequence of recent public measures with relation
to government house, the governor withdrew his name from
the public institutions of the island, and that consequently
he ceased to be the patron of the agricultural society. It
seems that the governor deemed the action of the assembly,
in reference to government house, illiberal in a pecuniary
sense ; but that was a very insufficient reason for a step so

H

98 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

fatal to his excellency's popularity^ and usefulness. The
committee, with a negative sarcasm which the governor
iiiUst have felt keenly, simply passed a resolution expressing
regret that any public measures — in reference to government
house — over which the society had no control, should
have been deemed by his excellency a sufficient reason for
the withdrawal of his name as patron of tlie society ; and a
resolution was passed, at the annual meeting, soliciting the
honor of His Hoyal Highness Prince Albert's patronage,
which, it is unnecessary to add, was readily granted.
; In 1846 a dispute arose between the governor and ^fr.
Joseph Pope, which excited considerable interest at the time,
and which resulted in a correspondence between the colonial
office and the governor. It seems that Mr. Pope had op-
posed strenuously, as an influential member of the house of
assembly, — he was then speaker, — a proposal to add live
hundred poimds to the governor's annual salary, and this
generated in the mind of his excellency a very undignified
feeling of hostility to Mr. Pope, who had only exercised a
right which could not be legitimately called in question.
Writing to Mr. Gladstone, then colonial secretary, the gov-
ernor said of Mr. Pope : "As for any support from Mr.
Pope, I am quite satisfied that in all his private actions,
since the time of my persisting in reading the speech, at the
opening of the session of 1845, respecting the debt he had
accumulated, he has been my concealed enemy." The gov-
ernor resolved to get quit of Mr. Pope, as an executive
councillor, and proceeded, in utter disregard of his instruc-
tions, to effect that object by suspending that gentleman
from his seat at the board, without any consultation with
other members of the council, assigning to Mr. Gladstone,
as his reason for dispensing with the usual forms, that he
had learnt from good private sources that the council, if

KIOT AT BELFAST. 99

consulted, would have dissuaded the suspension of Mr. Pope,
and would have recommended the commencement of pro-
ceedings, by referring the question to Her Majesty's govern-
ment. This reason could not prove satisfactory to the '
colonial secretary, and the governor was ordered to bring
the case before the executive council, in which Mr. Pope
was to be reinstated as a member ; and if they should advise
his suspension, then, but not otherwise, he was to be suspended
from his office as an executive councillor, until Her Majesty's
pleasure was known. Copies of the despatches in which
charges were brought against Mr. Pope were ordered to be
sent to himself, to which he had an opportunity of replying ;
but, in the meantime, he prudently tendered his resignation
to the governor, in a long communication, in which he gave
his reasons for so doing, and in which he embodied a reply
to the governor's charges, and condemned his gubernatorial
action in very plain and energetic terms.

The legislature met for the first time in the new colonial
building in January, 1847. An election for the district of
Belfast was ordered to be held on the first of March. There
were four candidates in the field: Messrs. Douse and
McLean on one side, and Messrs. Little and McDougall on
the other. A poll was opened at Pinette. The chief sup-
porters of the two former gentlemen were Scotchmen, and
of the two latter. Irishmen. A riot ensued, in which a
man named Malcolm McRae was so severely injured that
he died. Several others lost their lives in this disgraceful
scene. Dr. Hobkirk testified before the executive council
that from eighty to a hundred persons were suffering from
wounds received in the contest. A large force was sent to
the locality, and, on the nineteenth of March, Messrs. Douse
and McLean were returned without opposition. There is
not now a more peaceful locality in the island than that in

100 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

which the riot took phice ; national projudice and political
rancor are lost in kindly fellowship.

I^Iessrs. Charles Hensley, Daniel Hodgson, and George
Birnie having been appointed by the governor commissioners
to examine into all matters connected with the state of the
currency of the island, presented their report in February,
1847, — a report wliich was creditable botli to their industry
and judgment. It appears from a letter addressed by Mr.
Robert Hodgson, then attorney general, to the commissiou-
ers, that the legal currency of the island was the coinage
of the United Kingdom of Groat Britain and Ireland, and
the Spanisli milled dollar, which was valued at five shillings
sterling, — the debtor having the option of paying in either
of these descriptions of money. The commissioners drew
attention to the fact, that the currency of the island
was greatly depreciated, and that the process of depre-
ciation was going on, which was proved by the cir-
cumstance that the Halifax bank note of a pound, which
twelve months previously, would purchase no more than
twenty-three shillings of the island currency, was now re-
ceived and disbursed at the treasury for twenty-four shil-
lings. This depreciation the commissioners attributed to
an extensive issue of unconvertible paper, both notes and
warrants, combined with a growing distrust of the econom-
ical administration of the finances of the colony, arising
from the continued excess of the expenditure over the re-
ceipts of revenue for some years past. They therefore
recommended the reversal of the order of procedure, by
diminution of outlay, the increase of revenue, the gradual
abolition of notes, and the restraining of the issue of warrants
to the amount required yearly for the public service. They
also alluded to the advantages that would result from the
establishment of a substantial bank, issuing notes payable

BEPORT OF COMMISSIONERS ON CURRENCY. 101

on demand, and affording other facilities for the commercial
and agricnltural operations of the ishmd. The commis-
sioners concluded their report by expressing their deliberate
opinion that whilst a paper circulation, ba.«-ed on adequate
and a\'ailable c<i})ital, was, under prudent management, of
the utmost benefit to a commercijil and agricultural popu-
lation, and would contribute largely to its prosperity, im-
convertible paper was a curse and a deception, — a delusive
and fictitious cajjital, which left no solid foundation to rest
upon in any time of reverse and difficulty. They also ex-
pressed the hope that on no pretext should a permanent debt
be established in the colony, as the evil effects of such a
burden would not be confined to the additional charge upon
the revenue, but wouhl necessitate the absorption of capital
which might be more beneficially employed in commerce,
manufactures, or agricultural improvement.

The subject of responsible government was discussed at
length in the assembly during the session of 1847, and an
address to the Queen on the subject was adopted by the
house, in which it was represented that the lieutenant-gover-
nor or administrator of the colony should be alone respon-
sible to the Queen and imperial parliament for his acts, that
the executive council should be deemed the constitutional
advisers of the representative of Her Majesty, and that
when the acts of the administrator of the government were
such as tlie council could not approve, they should be re-
quired to resign. The house recommended that four mem-
bers of the executive council should be selected from the lower
branch of the legislature, such members being held responsible
to the house for the acts of the administrator of the govern-
ment. As the local resources of the assembly did not admit
of retiring pensions being provided for the officers who might
be affected by the introduction of the system of departmental

102 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

government, it was suggested tliat the treasurer, colonial
secretary, attorney general, and surveyor general should not
be required to resign, but that they should be required to
give a constitutional support to the measures of government.
In closing the session, the governor intimated his intention
of giving the address which had been voted by the house his
cordial support.

As the governor's term of office was about to expire, a
petition was got up by his friends, praying for his con-
tinuance in office. This movement stimulated a counter
movement on the part of an influential section of the com-
munity, who were antagonistic to the governor, and, con-
sequently, a counter petition was framed, and a subscription
set on foot to pay the expenses of a deputation to convey the
petition to England. The deputation consisted of the follow-
ing gentlemen : Mr. Joseph Pope, speaker of the house of
assembly, Mr. Edward Palmer, and Mr. Andrew Duncan, a
prominent merchant. The main grounds on which the con-
tinuance in office of the governor Avas objected to were the
following : — That he had recently coalesced with parties who
had been unremitting in their endeavors to bring his person
and government into contempt ; that he had shown a disin-
clination to advance the real interests of the colony, by
withdrawing his patronage and support from all public so-
cieties in the island, because the legislature had declined to
accede to his application for an increase of salary from the
public funds ; that on one occasion, through the colonial secre-
tary, he publicly denounced every member of society who
would dare to partake of the hospitality of a gentleman — a
member of the legislative council — who was then politically
opposed to him ; that lie had, on various occasions, im-
properly exercised the power given to him by the Queen, by
appointing parties totally unqualified by education and posi-

CHARGES AGAINST GOVKRNOR HUNTLEY. 103

lion to the magistracy ; that on a hvte occapion lie had
pertjonally coiifrratuhitod a successful political candidate at
government house, with illuminated windows, at a late hour
of the night, in presence of a large mob, who imme«liately
after proceeded tlirough the town, and attacked tlie houses
of several unoU'ending inhabitants. This formidable cata-
logue of com})laints was calculated to produce a most un-
favorable impression on the home government, as to Sir
Henry Vere Huntley's competency to govern the colony.
But the home government had come to a determination on
the subject before the arrival of the deputation. '^ I regret
to say," wrote Lord Grey, then the colonial secretary,
addressing the governor on the twelfth of August, " that
having carefully reviewed your correspondence with this
office, I am of opinion that there is no special reason for
departing in your case from the ordinary rule of the colonial
service, and I shall, therefore, feel it my duty to recommend
that you be relieved in your government on the termination
of the usual period for which your office is held."

Sir Donald Campbell, of DunstafFnage, was appointed to
take the place of Governor Huutley. He arrived in Char-
lottetown early in December, and as belonging to an ancient
highland family, was greeted with more than ordinary
enthusiasm.

When in London, the speaker of the house of assembly
and Mr. Palmer called the attention of Earl Grey to the
state of the currency, and his lordship subsequently addressed
a despatch to the lieutenant-governor on the subject. He
alluded to the practice of the local government issuing treas-
ury warrants for small sums of money, and treasury notes
for still smaller sums, for the purpose of meeting the ordinary
expenses of the government, as tending to depreciate the
currency below its nominal value. Two remedies presented

104 IIISTOUY OF T'RINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

themselves : first, whether it wouhl he proper to eiuleavor
to restore this depreeiated curreney to its original value ; or,
secondlv, Avhcther it wouhl not he hetter to fix its value at
its present rate, taking the neeessary measures for preventing
its further (h^preeiation. He recommended the latter course,
as more injustice was usually done hy restoring a depreciated
currency to its original value tlian hy fixing it at the value
whi<'h it might actually hear. To prevent further depreciti-
tioi", he recommended that the legislature should pass a law
enacting that the existing treasury warrants should he ex-
changed for treasury notes to the same amount, and that
these notes should he declared a legal tender ; that it should
not he lawful to make any further issue of treasury notes,
except in exchange for the precious metals, the coins of
different countries heing taken at the value they hore in
circulation, and that the treasury notes should be made
•exchangeable at the pleasure of the holders for coin at the
^arae rate. In order to enable the colonial treasurer, or such
other officer as might be charged with the currency account,
to meet any demands which might be made upon him for
coin in exchange for treasury notes, it might be necessary to
raise a moderate sum by loan, or otherwise, for that purpose.
Though these suggestions were not entirely carried out, yet
an act was passed in the session of 1849, which determined
the rates at which British and foreign coins were to be
•current, and how debts coiitracted in the currency of the
island were to be payable.

The year 1848 was not remarkable for any historic event
in the island, — the taking of the census being the most
noteworthy, when the population was ascertained to be
62,634. But it was a most memorable year in the history
of Europe, for in that year Louis Philippe, the King of the
French, vacated the throne, and fled to England for protec-

TOUR OF THE GOVKRNOK. 105

tion, nn event wliicli occasioned a general convulsion on the
continent of iMirope.

The attention of the assembly was calk'd to the evils
"whieli resulted from elections talking place in ti»e island on
difl'erent days, which presented an opportunity to the evil-
disposed to attend in various districts, and create a disturb-
ance of the public peace. A measure was accordingly
introduced and j)assed, which provided for the elections
taking place in the various electoral districts on the same
day, — an antidote to disorder which has operated admirably,
not only in Prince Edward Island, but in all places where it
has been adopted.

During summer, the governor — in order to become ac-
quainted with the state of the country — paid a visit to the
various sections of the island, and was well received. He
was entertained at dinner by the highland society, and the
whole Celtic population rejoiced in the appointment of one of
their countrymen to the position of lieutenant-governor.

In January, 1849, a public meeting was held in Char-
lottetown, for the purpose of forming a general union for
the advancement of agricultural pursuits. The chair was
occupied by Sir Donald Campbell, and resolutions were
adopted, and a subscription begun to carry out the object of
the meeting. t

Earl Grev transmitted a despatch to the governor in
January, 1849, stating the reasons why the government did
not accede to the desire, so generally expressed, to have
responsible government introduced. He stated that the in-
troduction of the system had, in other cases, been postponed
until the gradual increase of the community in wealth,
numbers, and importance appeared to justify it. He referred
to the circumstance that Prince Edward Island was com-
paratively small in extent and population, and its commercial

106 III9T0UY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. ^

and wealthy clanse.s contincd almost entirely to a sinj^le town.
Wliile its people were distingnishecl by those qualities of
order and public spirit which formed the staple foundation
of all j^overnment, in as hi«(h a degree as any portion of
their bretiiren of British descent, yet the external circum-
stances which would render the introduction of responsible
government expedient were wanting, — circumstances of
which time, and the natural progress of events, could alone
remove the deficiency. For these reasons Earl Grey con-
curred with his predecessor, Mr. Gladstone, that the time
for a change had not yet arrived. He, at the same time,
expressed his conviction that the existing system of adminis-
tration was compatible with the complete enjoyment by the
inhabitants of the colony of the real benefits of self-govern-
ment.

The colonial secretary thought that the period had come
when the assembly of the island should undertake to provide
for the civil list. He accordingly addressed a despatch to
the governor, intimating that the home government was
willing to provide the salary of the governor, which it pro-
posed to increase to fifteen hundred pounds sterling a year,
provided the other expenii»es of the civil government were
defrayed from the funds of the island. To this proposal the
house expressed its willingness to accede, provided that all
revenues arising from the permanent revenue laws of the
colony were granted in perpetuity, all claim to the quitrents
and crown lands abandoned, and a system of responsible
government conceded. The home government, in reply,
expressed its willingness to accede to the wishes of the
assembly on all these points, with trifling modifications, save
the granting of responsible government, in the present cir-
cumstances of the island. The governor, therefore, deemed
it the best com*se to dissolve the assembly and convene a

KESrONSIHLK (iOVEUNMENT. 107

new one, Avliicli mot on the fifth of March, 18r>0. In the
reply to the «;ovenior'.s speecli, the UHMenibly inserted a
para^rraph, in whicli want of eonfulence in tlie exeentivc
conncil wa.s eniphatirally i'X|)resse(I. Mr. Coles also moved
a resolntion in the honse, embodyinn^ the reasons of the
assembly for its want of eonrtdence, and refusin<r to <(rant
snpplies till the g<>vernmcnt shonld be remodelled, or in
other words, responsible government conceded. The gover-
nor proposed to meet the views of the house so far, on his
own responsibility, as to admit into the executive council
three gentlemen possessing its conHden(;e in room of three
junior members of the council. This proposal was not
deemed acceptable. The house then adopted an address to
the Queen, in which its views were set forth. The house
contended that, in taking measures to secure responsible
government, the governor would be only acting in accord-
ance with the spirit of his instructions, and that as all the
members of the executive council had resigned, there was no
impediment to the introduction of the desired change. The
house was prorogued on the twenty-sixth of March, but
again summoned on the twenty-fifth of April. Whilst the
house granted certain limited supplies, it refused to proceed
to the transaction of the other business to which its atten-
tion was called in the governor's opening speech. No pro-
vision was made for the roads and bridges, and other
services, and the governor, in his answer to the address of
the house in reply to his closing speech, said : " I should
fail in the performance of my duty, if I did not express my
disapprobation of your premeditated neglect of your legis-
lative functions."

The governor transmitted an able despatch to the colonial
secretary, in 1849, on the resources of the island, which
Lord Grey appreciated highly ; but the career .of the baronet

108 IIISTOUT OF PRINCK EDWAKD ISLAND.

a.« a j^ovtTiior was destined to l)e of short duration, for lio
•lied in October of the follo\vin;» year, at the comparatively
early aj^e of lifty years. In Sir Donald Caniphell were
united sonic of the best ((ualities of n jjood «fovernor. He
was firm ami faithful in the di>char«5e of duty ; at the same
time of a conciliatory and kitnlly dispositicii.

The Jlonorahle Ambrose Laiu>, who had been formerly
administrator durin<; Governor Huntley's temporary absence,
was a;rain appointed to that oHlcc till the arrival of Sir A.
Bannerman, the uew lieutenant-govtuMior. His excellency
arrived at Charlottetown on the eighth of March, having
crossed the strait in the ice-boat. The legislature assembled
on the t»vcnty-tiftli of March, 1851. In the opening speech
the governor informed the house that responsible govern-
ment would bo granted on condition of compensation being
allowed lo certain retiring ollicers. The house acceded to
the propt)sal, and a new government — sustained by a ma-
/ jority of the assembly — was accord frtgly formed in April,
— the leaders being the Honoralle George Coles, president,
\ and tlie Honorable Charles Young, attorney general. The

I Honorable Josej)h Pope was appointed to the treasurer-

\ ■ sliip, and the Honorable James AVarburtou to the oifice of

colonial secretary. Besides an important act :o commute
the Crown revenues of the island, and to proxide for the
civil list in accordance with the suggestions of the home
government, a measure was in this year passed for the
transference of the management of the inland posts, and
making threepence the postage of ordinary letters to any
part of British America, and a uniform rate of twopence to
any part of the island. This year was also memorable iu
the annals of the island, in consequence of a violent storm
which swept over it on the third and fourth of October, by
"which seventy-two American fishing vessels were seriously
damaged or cast ashore.

TEMrERANCE OUGANIZATIOXS. lOD

Tlic j^ovcrnor, in opcninj:^ the session of 1852, stated that
he had much pleasure iti visiting many parts of the ishiiid ;
])Ut that he observed willi re;^ret the cihieatioual defieieury
whieli still existed, and which the «;;overnment w<»uld en-
deavor to assist in supplyinj^, ])y introducin;:^ a measure
which, he hoped, would receive the approval of the house.
An act for tlie encoura;rement of education, and to raise
funds for that purpose by imposin;^ ati a<Mitional assessment
on land, was accordin^ily j)asse<l, which formed the basis of
the present educational system.

In Aj)ril, 1H.')3, the Ilnnorable Charles Youn«^ and Cap-
tain Swabey — the former attorney ;reneral, and the latter
rc^ristrar of deeds and chairman of the Board of Educatiou
— resiixned their seats as members of the executive council.
Mr. Joseph Ilensley was appointed to the olfice of attorney
freueral, and Mr. John Lonjiworth to that of solicitor gen-
eral, in phice of Mr. Ilensley. Mr. Young's resigmition
was mainly owing to the approval, by a majority of his

colleagues in the irovernment, of an act to regulate the

. . . "V

salaries of the attorney general and solicitor general, and ;

clerk of the Crown and prothonotary, for their services, lo
which he and other members of the government had serious
objections, which they embodied in a protest on the passing
1 of the bill.

The temperance organizations in the inland were particn- ."■' '
larly active at the period at which wc have arrived. AS
meeting was held in Charlottetown, for the purpose of
discussing the propriety and practicability of abolishing by
law the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
There would be consistency in prohibiting the manufacture
and importation of intoxicating liquors, as well as the sale
of them. But the Maine law, which permits the importa-
tion of liquor into the state, whilst it prohibits its sale, is a

(

110 HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

useles: anomaly. Let anyone visit Portland — where he
might expect to see the law decently enforced — and he will
find in one, at least, of the principal hotels in the city, a
public bar-room in which alcoholic liquors of all kinds are
openly sold ; and, if he chooses to begin business in the
liquor line, he can, for thirty dollars, procure a license from
one of the officials of the United States government, for that
purpose. The United States law sanctions the importation
and sale of intoxicating drinks ; the Maine state law forbids
the sale ostensibly, whilst it is really permitted. The
temperance movement has effected a vast amount of good,
but coercion is not the means by which it has been accom-
plished. ^ i ■

During the session of 1853, an act to extend the elective
franchise was passed, which made that privilege almost
universal. The house was dissolved during the summer,
and at the general election which ensued the government
was defeated. A requisition was in cousequence addressed
to the governor by members of the assembly, praying for
the early assembling of the house, <n order that, by legal
enactment, departmental officers miglil be excluded from
occupying seats in the legislature, to which request the
governor did not accede.

On the seventh of October, 1853, a sad catastrophe took
place in the loss of the steamer Fairy Queen. The boat
left Charlottetown on a Friday forenoon. Shortly after
getting clear of Point Prim, the vessel shipped a sea which
broke open the gangways. When near Pictou Island the
tiller-rope broke, and another heavy sea was shipped.
The rope was, with the assistance of some of the passen-
gers, spliced ; but the vessel moved very slowly. The
captain and some of the crew got into a boat and drifted
away, regardless of the fate of the female passengers.

NEW GOVERNMENT. Ill

Among the passengers were Mr. Martin I. Wilkius, of
Pictou, Mr. Lydiard, Mr. Pineo, Dr. McKenzie, and
others. After having been subjected to a series of heavy-
seas, the upper deck, abaft tlie funnel, separated from the
main body of the vessel, and providentially constituted an
admirable raft, by which a number of the passengers were
saved, among whom were Messrs. Wilkins, Lydiard, and
Pineo, who landed on the north side of Merigomish Island,
after eight hours of exposure to the storm and cold. Dr.
McKenzie, — an excellent young man, — other two males, and
four females perished. « ;

In opening the assembly of 1854, the governor referred
in terms of congratulation to the prosperous state of the
revenue. Or the thirty -first of January, 1850, the balance
of debt against the colony was twenty-eight thousand
pounds. In four years it was reduced to three thousand
pounds. The revenue had increased from twenty-two
thousand pounds, in 1850, to thirty-five thousand in 1853,
notwithstanding a reduction in the duty on tea, and two
thousand eight hundred pounds assessment imposed for
educational purposes.

The new house having declared its want of confidence in
the government, a new one was formed, of which the
leaders were the Honorables J. M. Holl and Edward
Palmer ; but there was a majority opposed to it in the
upper branch, which, to some extent, frustrated the satis-
factory working of the machine. The house was prorogued
in May ; and, in opposition to the unanimous opinion of his
council, the governor dissolved the assembly, — the reason
assigned for this course of procedure being, that the act
passed for the extension of the franchise had received the
royal assent, and that for the interest of the country it was
necessary to have a house based on the new law. An

112 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

appeal to the country was certain to ensure the defeat of
the government ; and the governor was accused of desiring
to effect that object before his departure from the island, —
for he had been appointed to the government of the
Bahamas. It is only due to Governor Baunerman to state
that he had anticipated ditficulties, which constrained him
to consult the colonial secretary as to the most proper
course of action, and that he received a despatch, in Avhicli
the duke said : " I leave it with yourself, with full conti-
dence in your judgment, to take such steps in relation to the
executive council and the assembly as you may think proper
before leaving the government." We may be permitted to
say that it is only in very rare and exceptional cases tluit
either a British sovereign or a royal representative can be
justified in disregarding the advice of constitutional advis-
ers ; and the case under notice does not seem, in any of
its bearings, to have been one in relation to which the
prerogative should have been exercised.

Dominick Daly, Esq., succeeded Governor Bannerman,
and arrived on the island on the twelfth of June, 1854, and
was received by all classes with much cordiality : addresses
poured in upon his excellency from all parts of the island.
A few days after the arrival of the new governor the election
took place, and was, as anticipated, unfavorable to the gov-
ernment, which, to its credit, resigned on the twentieth of
July, — intimation to that effect having been communicated
to the governor by the president of the executive council,
John M. HoU. A new government was formed, and the
house assembled in September, in consequence of the ratifi-
cation of a commercial treaty between the British and
United States governments, and the withdrawal of the
troops from the island, — circumstances which required the
immediate consideration of the assembly. The session Avas

■;rf

THE AVORRELL ESTATE. 113

a sliart one, the attention of tlie lioiiso being directed exclu-
sively to the business for the transaction of whicli it had
met. An act was immediately passed to authorise free
trade with the United States, under the trciify which had
been concluded. The measure opened the way for the
introduction into the island, free of duty, of grain and
breadstuflf's of all kinds ; butter, cheese, tallow, lard, etc.,
in accordance with a policy which has been found to operate
most beneficially in the countries where it has been adopted.
Great Britain declared war in this year against Russia ; .
but, beyond the withdrawal of the troops and the advance
of the prices of breadstufFs and provisions, the island was
not affected by its prosecution. • .

The Worrell Estate, consisting of eighty-one thousand
three hundred and three acres, was purchased by the gov-
ernm« r.L at the close of the year 1854, — the price paid
for the property being tweuty-fonr thousand one hundred
pounds, of which eighteen thousand pounds were paid
down, and the balance retained till the accuracy of its
declared extent was ascertained. -^ : r ;: ,

In the session of 1855 a considerable amount of legislative
business was transacted, including the passing of an act for
the incorporation of Charlottetown, an act for the incorpora-
tion of the Bank of Prince Edward Island, and an act to
provide a normal school for the training of teachers. In
proroguing the assembly, the governor referred in terms of
condemnation to any further agitation of the question of
escheat, as successive governments were opposed to every
measure which had hitherto passed relating to the subject,
in the wisdom of which opposition the governor expressed
himself as fully concurring. He approved of the active
measures which had been taken under the Land Purchase
Bill, and expressed his conviction that similar measures
I

114 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

only required the cordial co-operation of the tenantry to
secure an amount of advantage to themselves which no
degree of agitation could obtain. The island had contri-
buted two thousand pounds to the Patriotic Fund, which had
been instituted to n lieve the widows and children of soldiers
who fell in the Gri.nean war ; and the governor expressed
Her Majesty's satisfaction with the generous sympathy thus
evinced by the people and their representatives.

In the month of March, 1855, a distressing occurrence
took place. The ice-boat from Cape Tormentine to the
island, with Mr. James Henry Haszard, Mr. Johnson, son
of Dr. Johnson, medical students, and an old gentleman —
Mr. Joseph Weir, of Bangor — as passengers, had proceeded
safely to within half a mile of the island shore, when a
severe snow-storm was encountered. The boat, utterly un-
able to make headway, was put about, drawn on the ice,
and turned up to protect the men from the cold and fury of
the storm. Thus they were drifted helplessly in the strait
during Friday night, Saturday, and Saturday night. On
^Sunday morning tliey began to drag the boat towards the
mainland, and, exhausted, — not having tasted food for three
days, — they were about ceasing all further efforts, when
they resolved to kill a spaniel which Mr. Weir had with
him, and the poor fellows drjiuk the blood and eat the raw
flesh of the animal. They now felt a little revived, and
lightened the boat by throwing out trunks and baggage.
Mr. Haszard was put into the boat, being unable to walk ;
And thus they moved towards the shore, from which they
were four or five miles distant. On Monday evening Mr.
JJaszard died from exhaustion. They toiled on, however,
and on Tuesday morning reached the shore, near Wallace,
Nova Scotia, but, unfortunately, at a point two miles from
the nearest dwelling. Two of the boatmen succeeded in

IMPERIAL REJECTION OF MEASUBES. 115

reaching a house, and all the survivors, though much frost-
bitten, recovered under the kind and judicious treatment
which they received.

The census taken in 1855 declared the population of the
island to be seventy-one thousand. There were two hun-
dred and sixty-eight schools, attended by eleven thousand
pupils. The Normal School was opened in 1856 by the
governor, and constituted an important addition to the
educational machinery of the island.

During the session of 1855 an act was passed to impose
a rate or duty on the rent-rolls of the proprietors of certain
rented township-lands, and also an act to secure compensa-
tion to tenants ; but the governor intimated, in opening the
assembly in 1856, that both acts had not received Her
Majesty's confirmation, at which, in their reply to the
speech, the house expressed regret, — not hesitating to tell
His Excellency that they believed their rejection was attribu-
table to the influence of non-resident proprietors, which had
dominated so long in the councils of the Sovereign. Mr,
Labouchere, the colonial secretary, in intimating the deci-
sion of the government in reference to the acts specified,
stated that an hatever character might properly attach to the
circumstances connected with the original grants, which had
been often employed against the maintenance of the rights of
the proprietors, they could not, with justice, be used to
defeat the rights of the present owners, who had acquired
their property by inheritance, by family settlement, or
otherwise. Seeing, therefore, that the rights of the pro-
prietors could not be sacrificed without manifest injustice,
he felt it his duty steadily to resist, by all means in 1 s
power, measures similar in their character to those recently
brought under the consideration of Her Majesty's govern-
ment. He desired, at the same time, to assure the house

IIG HISTORY OF TRIXCE EDWARD ISLAND.

of assembly that it was with much re;?ret that Iler Majesty's
advisors felt themselves eonstraincfl to oppose the wishes of
the peoj)le of Prince Edwani Island, and that it was his own
wish to be spared the necessity of authoritative interference
in rej^ard to matters affecting the internal administration of
their affairs.

With regard to the main object which had been frequently
proposed by a large portion of the inhabitants, namely, that
some means might be provided by whicli a tenant holding
iintler a lease could arrive at the position of a fee-simple
proprietor, he was anxious to facilitate such a change, pro-
vided it couM be effected without injustice to the proprietors.
Two ways suggested themselves : first, the usual and natural
one of purchase and sale between the tenant and the owner ;
and, secondlv, that the irovernment of the island should treat
with such of the landowners as might be willing to sell, and
that the state, thus becoming possessed of the fee-simple of
such lands as might thus be sold, should be enabled to afford
greater facilities for converting the tenants into freeholders.
Such an arrangement could not probably be made without a
loan, to be raised by the island government, the interest of
which would be charged upon the revenues of the island.
Mr. Labouchere intimated that the government would not
be indisposed to take into consideration any plan of this
kind which might be submitted to them, showing in what
way the interest of such loan could locally be provided for,
and what arrangements would be proposed as to the manner
of disposing of the lands of which the fee-simple was in-
tended to be bought.

In 1856 the legislature presented an address to the Queen,
suggesting the guaranty of a loan for the purchase of town-
ship lands, with a view to the more speedy and general con-
version of leaseholds into freehold tenures. In answering this

TiiK BiuLK qup:stiox. 117

addross, tlic colonial sccrctiiry intimated that tlu; docnment^^
sent to him appcan-d to Iler Majo-^ty's government to atl'ord
a sutUeient guaranty tor the dno ])ayment of tlie interO"«t,
and for the formation of a sinkinLT-t'nnd for the payi.ieat of
the princijjal of the loan ; and that they were prepared to
anthorifse a loan of one hundred thou-;and })ouu(ls, stt'rling;
to hi' appropriated, on certain spi'citied conditions, to the
purclip.se of the rights of landed proprietors in the island.
It will be afterwanls seen that goo<l faith was not ke])t with
the people of the island in this matter.

The question as to whether the Bible ought to he made a
text-hook in the public schools of the island had been
freely discussed since the opening of the Normal School, in
October, 1856, when the discussion arose in consequence of
remarks made by Mr. Stark, the inspector of schools.
Petitions praying for the introduction of the Bible into the
Central Academy and the Normal School were presented
at the commencement of the session of 1858, and the ques-
tion came beforvi (ho liouse on the nineteenth of March,
when Mr. McGill, as chairman of Uvc cor??77)iltee on certain
petitions relating to the subject, reported that the committee
adopted a resolution to the effect that it was inexpedient to
comply with the prayer of the several petitions before the
house asking for an act of the legislature to compel the use
of the protectant Bible as a class-book in mixed schools like
the Central Academy and Normal School, which were sup-
ported by protestants and catholics alike, — the house feeling
assured that so unjust and so imnecessary a measure was
neither desired by a majority of the inhabitants of the
colony, nor essential to the encouragement of education and
religion. The Honorable Mr. Palmer moved an amend-
ment, to the effect that it was necessary to provide by law
that the holy Scriptures might be read and used by any

118 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

scholar or scholars attending cither the Central Academy or
Normal Scliool, iu all cases where the parents or guardians
might require the same to be used. The house then di-
vided on the motion of amendment, when the numbers
were found equal ; but the speaker gave his casting vote in
the negative. Mr. McGill being one of the prominent
public men opposed to the principle of compulsion in religi-
ous matters, was at this time subjected to much unmerited
abuse, emanating from quarters where the cultivation of a
better spirit might be reasonably expected.

The quadrennial election took place in June, 1858, when
the strength of the government was reduced to such a degree
as to render the successful conduct of the public business
impossible. The government dismissed the postmaster and
some of his subordinates from office, which occasioned a
large county meeting in Charlottetown, at which resolutions
condemnatory of the action of the government and expressive
of sympathy for and confidence in the ability and fidelity of
the officials were passed. The principal speakers were Mr.
William McNeill, Colonel Gray, Honorable E. Palmer, and
W. H. Hyde. When the house met, it was found that
parties were so closely balanced that the business of the
country could not be transacted on the basis f '^ the policy
of the government or opposition. The house failed to elect
a speaker, — the parties nominated having refused to accept
office iu the event of elvtetion. A dissolution consequently
took place, and a new election was ordered. The contest at
the polls resulted in the defeat of the government, who
resigned on the fourth of April, and a new government was
formed, of which the leaders were the Honorable Edward
Palmer and the Honorable Colonel Gray.

On the morning that the Islander published the names of
the new government, it also announced the death of Duncan

CHANGE OF gover;,or. 1 ID

McLean, who for nine years edited that paper, and who
had, just before liis deatli, been appointed Commissioner of
Public Lauds, ^fr. McLean was a well-infornuMl and \'v^-
orous writer ; and, although his pen was not unfre({UL'ntly
dipped in political gall, yet he was genial and kindly in
private life, and was a man who never nourished his wrath
to keep it warm, or allowed it to extend beyond the political
arena. Mr. McLean had a large circle of friends who
deeply regretted his death.

The governor, in the opening speech of the session,
intimated that he had received communications from Her
Majesty's government on the subject of a federal union of
the North American Provinces. He also stated that it was
not the intention of the home government to propose to par-
liament the guaranteeing of the contemplated loan. He
also informed the house that he had some time previously
tendered his resignation of the lieutenant-governorship of
the island, that his services were to be employed in another
portion of the colonial possessions, and that his successor
had been appointed.

Colonel Gray submitted to the house a series of resolu-
tions, which were adopted with certain modifications, pray-
ing that Her Majesty would be pleased to direct a commission
to some discreet and impartial person, not connected with the
island or its affairs, to inquire into the existing relations of
landlord and tenant, and to negotiate with the proprietors
£ov such aa abatement of present liabilities, and for such
terms for enabling the tenantry to convert their leaseholds
into freeholds as might be fairly asked to ameliorate the
condition of the tenantry. It was suggested in these resolu-
tions that the basis of any such arrangement should be a
large remission of arrears of rent now due, and the giving
every tenant holding under a long lease the option of pur-

120 inyruiiY of i'kinci: iuwakd island.

cliiL-ilii'^ lii.-^ IiiikI at a ci'itHin rate at auv i'lnie lie mi'^lit find
it convcMiIout to <lo >o.

Tlie lri.M,»latiM-' council, of wliich the lloiioralilc Charles
Yoim;;, LL. D.. was president, adopted an address prayin;: that
the i^neen would he pleased to <.dve instructions that an a<i-
iiiinistijition nii«:lit he t'ornied iii consonance with the roval
instructions when assent was given to tiie Civil List Bill,
passed iu A[)iil, IH')?. The council <'oinplained that the
p'.iuciple ot responsihle government was violati.'d in the
constru( tion of the existing executive council, which did not
contain one Ilonian catholic, though the population of that
faith was, according to the census of 18r*/>, thirty-two thou-
sand ; that not one member of the legislative council
belonged to the executive ; that persons were ai)poiuted to
all the departmental ollices who had no seats in the legisla-
ture, and who were, in consequence, in no way responsible
to the people ; and as all persons accepting ollice under the
Crown, when members of the assembly, were compelled to
a})peal to their constituents for re-election, this statute Avas
deliberately evaded, and no parliamentary responsibility
existed.

In replying to the address of the legislative council, in a
counter-address, the house of assembly contended that there
was no violation of the principle of the act passed in 1857 ;
that the prejudicial influence of salaried ollicers having seats
in the assembly was condemned by the people at the polls,
as indicated by the present house, wliere there were nineteen
f jr, to eleven members opposed to the principle. As evidence
of public opinion on the subject, it was further stated, that
when the commissioner of public lands, after accepting
office in the year 1857, appealed to the people, he was
rejected by a large majority ; that the attorney general and
registrar of deeds, at the general election in June last, were

OOVERXOR Daly's faukwkll addiikss. 121

in like niiiniuT irjccttMl ; jiiid that at tlu' ^I'licral election in
March la.^^t, the trcusuivr and po^tniasttT-jri'nonil were alx)
rej«'ctiMl, — tlic colonial secretary ln'in^' the only dcpiirtmental
ollicer who was ahle t(j jirocnrc a <'onstitncncy.

On the nineteenth «>t' Mav. Lieut. (I'^crnor Dalv nro-
rogned the honsc in a graceful sptech. lie .-aid he could not
permit the last opportunity to pass without cx])ressing the
gratilication which he should I'ver expi'j'icnce in the recollec-
tion of the harmony which had snhsisted hetween the execu-
tive and the other hranches of tin* legislature during the whole
course of his administration, to which the uninterrupted tran-
quillity of the island during the same period might in a great
measure be attributed. The performance of the important
and often anxious duties attached to his station had been
facilitated and alleviated by the confidence which they had
ever so fraidvly reposed in the sincerity of his desire to pro-
mote the welfare of the communitv ; and notwitiistandin";
the peculiar evils with which the colony had to contend, he
had the satisfaction of witnessing the triumph of its natural
resource* in its steady though limited improvement. In
bidding the liouse and the people farewell, he trusted that
the favor of Divine Providence, which had been so signally
manifested towards the island, might ever be continued
to it, and conduct its inhabitants to the condition of pros-
perity and improvement which was ever attainable by the
united and harmonious cultivation of such capabilities as
were possessed by Prince Edward Island.

Sir Dopiinick Daly having left the island in May, the
Honorable Charles Young, president of the legislative
council, was sworn in as administrator. Mr. George Dundas,
member of parliament for Linlithgowshire, was appointed
lieutenant-governor, and arrived in June, when he received
a cordial welcome. Amongst the numerous addresses pre-

122 IIISTOUY OF PRINCE EDWAKD ISLAND.

sentocl to tlic p^ovcrnor was one from the minif^tcrs of the
Weslcyivii Conference of Eastern British America, assem-
bled in Cliarlottetowii, who reprcsenteil a ministry of
npwanls of a hunch-ed, and a church-racinbership of about
fifteen thousand.

General WiUiams, the hero of Kars, visited the island in
July, and received a hearty welcome from all classes. He
was entertained at supper served in the Province Building.
The Mayor of Charlottetown, the Honorable T. H. llavi-
land, occupied the chair, having on his right hand Mrs.
Dundas and General Williams, and on his left, Mrs. E.
Palmer and the Lieutenant-governor. The Honorable Mr^
Coles acted as croupier. '

On the thirtieth of December, 1859, at Saint Duustan's
College, died the Right Reverend Bernard Donald McDonald,
Roman catholic bishop of the island. He was a native of
the island, having been born in the parish of Saint Andrew's
in December, 1797. He obtained the rudiments of an Eng-
lish education in the school of his native district, — one of
the very first educational establivshments then existing on the
island. He entered, at the age of fifteen, his alma mater, —
the Seminary of Quebec. Here he remained for ten years^
during which time he distinguished himself by his unremit-
ting application to study, and a virtuous life. It was then
that he laid the foundation of that fund of varied and exten-
sive learning — both sacred and profane — which rendered his
conversation on every subject agreeable, interesting, and
instructive. Having completed his studies, he was ordained
priest in the spring of 1824, and he soon afterwards
entered on his missionary career. There being but few
clergymen on the island at that time, he had to take charge
of all the western parishes, including Indian River, Grand
River, Miscouche, Fifteen Point, Belle Alliance, Cascumpec,

SKKTCII OF BISHOP MCDONALD. • 123'

Ti;^ni.H]i, etc. In all these missions he succeeded, by his
zeal and untiring ener;;y, in building chtirches and parochial
houses. In the autumn of 182'J ho was appointed pastor of
CIiarh)ttetown and the neighboring missions. In IH.'JG lie
was nominated by the Pope successor to the Right Reverend
Bisliop RlacEachorn, and on tlie tifteenth of October of iliat
year was consecrated Bishop of Charkttetown iu Saint
Patrick's Church, Quebec.

The deceased prehite was charitable, liospitable, and
pious. ITuving few priests in his diocese, he himself took
charge of a mission ; and besides attending to all his epis-
copal functions, lie also discharged the duties of a pari:;h
priest. He took a deep interest in the promotion of educa-
tion. He established in his own district schools in which
the young might be instructed, not only in secular knowl-
edge, but also in their moral and religious duties, and
encouraged as much as possible their establishment througli-
out the whole extent of his diocese. Aided by the co-opera-
tion of the charitable and by the munificent donation of a
gentleman, now living, he was enabled to establish in Char-
lottetowu a convent of ladies of the Congregation de Notre'
Dame, — which institution is now in a flourishing condition,
affording to numerous young ladies, belonging to Charlotte-
town and other parts of the island, the inestimabh? blessing'
of a superior education. But the educational estabHshmeut
in which the bishop appeared to take the principal interest
was Saint Dunstan's College. This institution, which is an
ornament to the island, the lamented bishop opened early in
1855. The care with which he watched over its progress
and provided for its wants, until the time of his death, was
truly paternal. Long before he departed, he had the satis-
faction of seeing the institution established on a firm basis-
and in a prosperous condition.

124 IIISTOKY OF PKINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

In tlio year 185C tlio bi'^lioj) coutractc;! a cangli, aiul
(lecliiiiu;^ lii'alth soon l)0('amo perceptible. He, however,
(continued to di-^eliar^e his (hitics as pastor of Saint Angns-
tme's Chnrch, Rnstico, until the autnnm of 18')7, ■\vlien, by
meclical advice, lie discontinued the most hiborious portion
of them. Finding that Ids disease — clironic l^ronchitis —
was becoming moi'e deeply seated, he went to New York
in the summer of" 1858, and consulted t!ie most eminent
physicians of that city, but to little or no purpose. His
health continui)ig to decline, he set his house in order, and
awaited the time of his dissoluti<ni with the utmost resigna-
tion. About two months before his death he removed from
Rustico, and took up his residence in Saint Dnnstan's
College, savinir that he wished to die within its walls. On
the twenty-second of December he became visibly worse,
and on the twenty-sixth he received the last sacraments.
He continued to linger till the thirtieth, when he calmly
expired, in the sixty-second year of his age.

The lieutenant-governor was instructed by the home gov-
ernment that, in the event of the absence of harmony between
the legislative council and the assembly, he should increase
the number of councillors, and thus facilitate the movements
of the machine. Five additional members were accordingly
added to the council. During the session, several acts were
passed relating to education, including one which provided
for the establishment of the Prince of Wales College.

The governor laid before the house a despatch, Avhich he
had received from the colonial secretary, the Duke of New-
castle, relative to the subject of the proposed commission on
the land question. His grace had received a letter, signed
by Sir Samuel Cunard and other proprietors, in which, ad-
dressing his grace, they said : " We have been furnished
with a copy of a memorial, addressed to Her Majesty, from

PROPRIETOllS* PBOrOSALS. : 125

the house of assembly of Prince Edward If^haud, on the
questions wliich have arisen in connection with the original
grants of land in that island, and the rights of proprietors in
respect thereof. We observe that the assembly have sug-
gested that Tier Majesty should appoint one or more com-
missioners to inquire into the relations of landlortl and
tenant in the island, and to negotiate with the proprietors
of the township lands, for fixing a certain rate of price at
Avhich every tenant might have the option of purchasing his
land ; and, also, to negotiate vith the proprietors for a
remission of the ai'rears o*' -eat in such cases as the com-
missioners might deem reasonable ; and proposing that the
commissioners should report the result to Her Majesty.
As hvrge proprietors in this island, we beg to state that we
shall acquiesce in any arrangement that may be practicable
for the purpose of settling the various questions alluded to
in the memorial of the house of assembly ; but we do not
think that the appointment of commissioners, in the manner
proposed by them, would be the most desirable mode of
procedure, as the labors of such commissioners would only
terminate iu a report, which would not be binding on any of
the parties interested. We beg, therefore, to suggest that,
instead of the mode proposed by the assembly, three com-
missioners or referees should be appointed, — one to be named
by Her Majesty, one by the house of assembly, and one by the
proprietors of the land, — and that these commissioners should
have power to enter into all the inquiries that may be neces-
sary, and to decide upon the different questions which may
he brought before them, giving, of course, to the parties
interested an opportunity of being heard. We should pro-
pose that the expense of the commission should be paid by
the three parties to the reference, that is to say, in equal
thirds ; and we feel assured that there Avould be no difficulty

126 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

in securing the adherence of all the landed proprietors to a
settlement on this footing. The precise mode of carrying it
into execution, if adopted, would require consideration, and
upon that subject we trust that your grace will lend your
valuable assistance.^

" If the consent," said the colonial secretary, " of all the
parties can be obtained to this proposal, I believe that it may
offer the means of bringing these long pending disputes to a
termination. But it will be necessary, before going further
into the matter, to be assured that the tenants will accept as
binding the decision of the commissioners, or the majority
of them ; and, as far as possible, that the legislature of the
colony would concur in any measures which might be re-
quired to give validity to that decision. It would be very
desirable, also, that any commissioner who might be named
by the house of assembly, on behalf of the tenants, should
go into the inquiry unfettered by any conditions such as
were proposed in the assembly last year."

The proposal of the colonial secretary, as to the land com-
mission, came formally before the house on the thirteenth of
April, when Colonel Gray moved that the house deemed it
expedient to concur in the suggestions offered for their con-
. sideration for the arrangement of the long pending dispute
between the landlords and tenants of the island, and, there-
fore, agreed to the appointment of three commissioners, — one
by Her Majesty, one by the house of assembly, and the
third by the proprietors, — the expense to be divided equally
between the imperial government, the general revenue of
the colony, and the proprietors ; and that the house also
.-agreed, on the part of the tenantry, to abide by the decision
of the commissioners, or the majority of them, and pledged
themselves to concur in whatever measures might be re-
. quired to give validity to that decision. Mr. Coles proposed

PURCHASE OF THE SELKIRK ESTATE. 127

Tin amendment, to the etfect that there were no means of
ascertaining the views and opinions of the tenantry upon
the questions at issue, unless by an appeal to the wliole
people of the colony, in the usual constitutioual manner, and
that any decision otherwise come to by the commissioners or
referees appointed should not be regarded as binding on the
tenantry. On a division, the motion of Colonel Gray was
carried by nineteen to nine. It was then moved by Mr.
Howat, that the Honorable Joseph Howe, of Nova Scotia,
should be the commissioner for the tenantry, which was
unanimously agreed to.

During this session, that of 1860, the assembly agreed
to purchase the extensive estates of the Earl of Selkirk ; and
the purchase of sixty-two thousand and fifty-nine acres was
effected, at the very moderate rate of six thousand five
hundred and eighty-six pounds sterling, — thus enabling the
government to offer to industrious tenants facilties for be-
coming the owners of land which was then held by them
on lease.

On the fourth of May, 1860, died Mr. James Peake, at
Plymouth, England. From the year 1823 until 1850, Mr.
Peake was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits on the
island. He was a successful merchant, and for some years
held a seat in Her Majesty's executive council. Of a kind
and generous disposition, he did not live to himself, but was
ever ready to extend a helping hand to industrious and
reliable persons, who might need aid and encouragement.
He was highly esteemed as a liberal, honorable man.
His integrity and enterprise placed him in the front rank as
a merchant. *'None," said the /s?awrfer, " was more de-
servedly respected, and by his death the world has lost one
who was an honest and upright man."

CHAPTER VIII.

Arrival of the Prince of Wales— His Reception— The British Colonial
Secretary expresses satisfaction with the Assembly's proceedings in
regard to the Land Commission— The Report of the Commissioners -Its
cardinal points presented — Their views with regard to Escheat and other
subjects — The case of the Loyalists and Indians. Remarks on the Report :
its merits and its defects. Tlie evils incident to the Land Question fun-
damentally attributable to the Home Government — The Immigrants de-
ceived— The misery consequent on such deception — The burden of correc-
tion laid on the vrrong shoulders — Volunteer Companies — General Census
—Death of Prince Albert— The Duke of Newcastle and the Commissioners'
Report. \

HE Prince of Wales having, in compliance with an
invitation from the Canadian parliament, resolved to
^v^ visit British North America, he was invited by the
authorities to pay a visit to Prince Edward Island. Having
signified his intention of doing so, suitable preparations
"Nvere made for his reception. His Royal Highness having
proceeded to Newfoundland, and thence to Nova Scotia and
NeAv Brunswick, he, after a short stay in these colonies,
arrived in Charlottetown, in the ship Hero, on Thursday,
the tenth of August, about twelve o'clock, m. On the Hero
swinging to her anchors, the lieutenant governor, attended
by Colonel Gray, stepped into a barge and proceeded on
board the ship. After a short interval, his excellency
returned, and intimated that the royal party would disembark
in half an hour. The governor received His Royal Highness
as he stepped on the pier, and, in the name of the colonists,
welcomed him to the island. The governor then presented
the mayor to the Prince, and the recorder and city council,
collectively. A guard of honor, consisting of a detachment

THE VISIT OF THE TRINCE OF WALES. 129

of the 62iid regiment, ami a body of volunteers, lined the
way from the landing place to the royal carriage, into which,
amidst the cheers of the people, the Prince stepi)ed, inviting
the governor to occupy the vacant seat. The procession
was then formed, headed by an escort of volunteer cavalry,
commanded by Major Davies. Immediately in advance of
the first carriage walked the mayor, supported by the recorder
and the city treasurer, and after the carriages, the procession
was composed of the judges, the executive council, the
members of both branches of the legislature, the clergy, the
public officers, the city councillors, the committee of manage-
ment, the members of the bar and other gentlemen, the
troops, and societies and associations. Tiiere were four
triumphal arches through which tlie procession passed.
These were erected at the public expense. On passing
through Rochfort Square, the procession halted for a moment
opposite a platform, on which were assembled upwards of a
thousand children, neatly attired, and belonging to the
sabbath schools. When the carriage of the Prince reached
the platform, a thousand youthful voices united in singing
the national anthem, when the emotion of the Prince was
such that he actually shed tears.

At the door of Government House, His Royal Highness
was received by Mrs. Dundas, and conducted to the
drawing-room, where the members of the executive coun-
cil were presented by the governor. Rain, which had
threatened all day, now began to descend ; but there was a
pleasant interval in the afternoon, during which the Prince
rode, taking the Saint Peter's and Malpeque roads, and
returning in time for dinner, at half-past seven o'clock.
There was a general illumination in the evening, the due
effect of which was marred by heavy rain. But the follow-
ing day was a splendid one. His Royal Highness, in the
K

130 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND,

uniform of a colonel, held a levee in the forenoon, after
which he inspected the volunteers, to the number of about
four hundred and fifty men, in front of Government House.
They were commanded by Major the lion. T. II. Ilaviland,
who was complimented on the appearance of the force.
Major Davies' troop of cavalry also received its share of
royal commendation.

His Royal Highness drove to the Colonial Building for
the purpose of receiving the addresses of the executive
council and of the corporation of the city. He was received
by Mr. Palmer and the Mayor, at the entrance. Two large
stands had been erected for the accommodation of ladies
wishing to witness the interesting ceremony. The civic
and executive addresses were respectively read by the
Recorder and the Honorable Edward Palmer. "We may be
permitted to say that these addresses, in point of good taste
and expression, were far above the average of such compo-
sitions. To these addresses the Prince made suitable replies.
In the afternoon His Royal Highness took another ride into
the country, making a brief halt at the farm of Ur. H.
Longworth, whence he obtained tn extensive view of Char-
lottetown and the harbor. ' - - ,' ^

In the evening there was a ball in the Colonial Building,
which was attended by a numerous and brilliant assemblage,
and \vhere His Royal Highness danced with much spirit,
remaining till after three o'clock.

On Saturday the prince departed from the island, where
he had produced a most favorable impression, — leaving one
hundred and fifty pounds to be disposed of in charity, accord-
ing to directions communicated to the lieutenant-governor
and his ladv.

On the sixteenth of June, 1860, the Duke of Newcastle
addressed a despatch to the lieutenant-governor, expressing

THE LAND COMMISSION OF 18G0. l-^t

his sense of the promptitude and completeness ^vith Avliich
the house of assembly had given its support to the plan
devised in the hope of tertninating the differences on the
question of land, by >vliich the island had been so long
agitated, and intimating that a commission would be for-
warded, under the royal sign manual, containing the
appointment of the Honorable Joseph Howe, Mr. John
Hamilton Gray, and Mr. John AVilliam Ritchie, as com-
missioners,— Mr. Howe being the representative of the
tenants, Mr. Gray of the Crown, and Mr. Ritchie of the
proprietors. The commissioners accordingly opened their
court at the Colonial Building, on the fifth of September,
1860, — Mr. Gray presiding. There appeared at the court,
as counsel for the government of the colony, on behalf of the
tenantry, Mr. Samuel Thomson, of Saint John, N. B., and
Mr. Joseph Hensley ; and for the proprietors, Mr. R. G.
Haliburton and Mr. Charles Palmer. Mr. Benjamin Des-
Brisay was appointed clerk to the commissioners. On the
first day, the court was addressed by counsel representing
the various interests, and on the succeeding days, a very
large number of witnesses were examined, for the purpose
of eliciting information for the guidance of the court in
coming to a decision. After the evidence had been heard,
the court was addressed by counsel.

The report of the commissioners was dated the eighteenth
of July, 18G1 ; and, as any history of the island would be
incomplete without an outline of its contents, the writer will
now proceed to give such outline, which, whilst it presents
leading facts and arguments adduced, will not, it is hoped,
be open to the charge of undue prolixity.

As we have, in the course of the narrative, given an
incidental sketch of the history of the land question, we
shall pass over that portion of the commissioners' report

132 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

"vvlilch 18 occupied with facts that have already been par-
tially Hubmitted, and to -which "sve must a;^aiii refer at a
more advanced stage of the narrative, and give the substance
of the remedies which the commissioners proposed for exist-
ing evils. The commissioners expressed the hope that they
might be regarded as having entered upon the discharge of
their duties, not only with a high appreciation of the honor
conferred by their appointment, but also Avith a due sense of
the grave responsibilities which tiiey fissumed. When they
commenced their labors there was a general impression that
the act of the provincial legislature, which made their award
binding on all parties concerned, would receive the royal
assent ; and, although the decision of the colonial secretary
— not to snbmit that act for Her Majesty's approval — some-
what relieved them from the weight of responsibility neces-
sarily involved in the preparation and delivery of a judgment
beyond appeal, they still felt that, as their award was to
affect the titles of a million of acres, and the rights and
interests of eighty thousand people, a hasty decision would
not be a wise one, and that the materials for a judgment
ought to be exhausted before the report was made.

By traversing the island and mixing frei^ly with its
people, the commissioners had become familiar w^ith its
great interests and general aspects. By holding an open
court in all the shire towns, they had given to every man on
the island, however poor, an opportunity to explain his
grievances, if he had any. By bringing the proprietors and
tenants face to face before an independent tribunal, mutual
misunderstandings and exaggerated statements had been
tested and explained, and the real condition of society and
the evils of the leasehold system had been carefully contem-
plated from points of view not often reached by those whose
interests were involved in the controversy. The evidence

THE LAND COMMISSION OF 18G0. 133

collected, thou^rli uot iiiidor oath, — the commissioiuTS not
being vested with power to administer oaths, — was most
valuable in aiding them to form a correct estimate of the
evils of which the jtcople com})lained.

The documentary histcny of the (juestion extended over
uearly a century of time, and was to be found in the
journals of tlie Legislature, in the newspaper files of the
colony, and in pamphlets more or less numerous. The
amount of time and money wasted in public controversy no
man cuuld e.-timate; and the extent to which a vicious
system of colonization had entered into the daily life of the
people, and embittered their industrial and social relations,
it was painful to record.

The commissioners felt that as the case of Prince Edward
Island was exceptional, so musit be the treatment. The appli-
cation of the local government for a commission, and the
large powers given to it by the Queen's authority, i)resup-
posed the necessity of a departure from the ordinary legal
modes of settling disputes between landlords and tenants,
which the experience of half a century had proved to be
inadequate.

Finding that it was impossible to shut ont of their
inquiry, wliile on the island, the questions of escheat,
quitrents, and fishery reserves, — the claims of the de-
scendants of the original French inhabitants, Indians, and
loyalists, — they thought it quite within the range of their
obligations to express their opinions freely upon these
branches of the general suljject. ^'.:^ r-,-. .::....■-''.---<>■. ..-y.-^-- .r,-

The question of escheat, though apparently withdrawn
from the scope of their inquiry by despatches from the
colonial office, — received long after the opening of the com-
mission,— could uot be put aside. The discussion of the
question was forced upon them from the day the court

184 IIISTOUY OF PRINCE EDWAUD ISLAND.

opened until it closed. TIic commissioners, tlierefore,
tliought it comported with their duty to express the con-
clusions at which they had arrived. • ■

In considering the best mode of quieting the disputes
between the proprietors and tlieir tenants, and of converting
the leasehold into freehold tenures, the commissioners re-
marked that the granting of a wlude colony in a single day, in .
huge blocks of twenty thousand acres each, Avas an improvi-
dent and unwise exorcise of the prerogative of the Crown.
There was no co»operation on the part of the proprietors in
peopling the island. Each acted on his own responsibility, and
■whiU^ a few showed energy in the work, the great body of
the grantees did notliing. The emigrants sent out by the
few were disheartened bv the siirroundin<Tr wilderness owned
by tlie many, who made no effort to reclaim it, or were
tempted to roam about or disregard the terms of settlement
by the quantity of wild land, with no visible owner to guard
it from intrusion. By mutual co-operation and a common
policy, the proprietors might have redeemed the grants of
the ijuperial government from the charge of improvidence.
The want of these indispensible elements of success laid
the foundation of all the grievances which subsequently
afflicted the colony.

The commissioners regarded the land purchase act as
embodying the most simple and efficacious remedy for ex-
isting evils. Under that act the Worrell and Selkirk estates
had been purchased, — covering about one hundred and
forty thousand acres, by which signal advantages were se-
cured, the proprietors being dispossessed by their own con-
sent, the tenants being enabled to purchase their holdings
and improvements, not necessarily at a price so high as to
represent the rents stipulated to be paid, but at the lowest
price which the expenses of management, added to the ag-

THE LAND COMMISSION OF 18G0. 135

gregnto cost of the estate, would warrant ; and tlie wIM lands
were at once rescued from the leasehold system, ami wore
suhlected to the wholesome control of the local iroverument,
to be hereafter disposisd of in fee .simple, at moderate prices,
as they are in all the other North American provinces. The
commissioners unanimously recommended the aj)plication to
the whole island of the princi[)les emhodied in the land pur-
chase act, under modifications which appeared to be essen-
tial to their more extended adoption.

With respect to escheat, the commissioners reported that
there was no light in which the jjresent escheat of the titles,
on the ground of the conditions of the original grants having
been broken, could be viewed, which v/ould not exhibit
consequences most dis.'t -trous to the island. Tliey theretbre
reported that there should be no escheat of the original grants
for non-performance of conditions as to settlement.

The commissioners recommended that the im})oiial par-
liament should guarantee a loan of one hundred thousand
pounds, so that the money could be borrowe<^ at a low rate
of interest. With the command of such a fund, the goveru-
ment would be in a condition to enter the market, and to
purchase, from time to time, such estates as could be ob-
tained at reasonable prices. They did not doubt that many
of the proprietors would be glad to sell, and the compe-
tition for the funds at the disposal of the government would
so adjust the prices that judicious purchases could be made
without any arbitrary proceedings or compulsory interference
with private rights. The commissiouers felt that it might be
beyond their duty to make such a suggestion, but they hoped
Her Majesty's government would regard the case of Prince
Edward Island as exceptional, its grievances having sprung
from the injudicious mode in which its lauds were originally
given away.

13C IIISTOUY OF PRINCE EDWAUD I5?LAND.

.' Assunilii;.' that the imperial parliiiineiit ;^iuiraiitcc(l a loan,
there remained to Im; consiidoreil tlu' nature of tlie security
which Would he otl'ered. Ahhou;rh it was not improhablc
that di»ul>ts nii^ht have arisen ns to the ability of the colony
to repay so larire an Jimount, a trlance at its financial position
would show tiiat tlie recpiired relief might he ;riven without
the risk of anv lo.ss to tiie mother countrv. The connnis-
sioners showed tiuit the revenue of the island had increased
from seventeen thousand pounds in 1839, to forty-one thou-
sand in l.S'iO, — more than doubling' itself in twentv years.
It seemed apparent, therefore, that without disturbing the
tarirt* or reducing the ordinary appropriations, in five years
the natm-al increase of po})ulation, trade, and consumption
would give six thousand pounds a year, or a sum sutlicient
to pay the interest on a hundred thousand pounds, at six per
cent. As it was not improbable that five years would be
required to purchase the estates, and expend the loan to ad-
vantage, it might happen that the revenue would increase as
fast as the interest was required, without any increase in
the tariff, or diminution of the appropriations. But it might
be reasonably assumed, when a new spirit was breathed into
the island, and its population turned to tlie business of life,
with new hopes and entire confidence in the future, that
trade would be more active, and the condition of the
people improve. The very operation of the loan act might
therefore supply all the revenue required to meet the
difference ; but if it should not, an addition of two and a
half per cent, upon the imports of the island, or a reduction
of the road vote for two or three years, would yield the
balance that might be required.

In making their calculations, no reference was made to
the fund which would be at once available from the payment
of their instalments by the tenants who purchased. Two

THE LAND COMMISSION OF 18C0. 137

t1lou^aIl(l live hundred poiiiidsi had been paid hy the tenants
on the Selkirk estate in tlie first year after it was purchased.
(!Inided hy tlie experience thus jjaiucd of the disposition ami of
tlie resources? of the tenantry, it was deemed hy the com-
missioners fair to conchaU; tluit if such a sum couhl he
promptly realized from sales of lan<l, admitted to he amou'ij
the poorest in the island, the local government juiglit fairly
count upon the command of such an increase, from the
re-sale of the estates they might purchase, as would enable
them to keep faith v.ith the i)ublic creditor, without any risk
of embarrassment.

In considering the remedies to be applied, three conclu-
sions forced themselves on the commissioners : that the
original grants were improvident and ought never to have
been sanctioned ; that all the grants were liable to lorfeit-
ure for breach of the conditions with respect to settlement,
and might have been justly escheated ; and that all the
grants might have been practically annulled by the enforce-
ment of quitrents, and the lands seized and sold by the
Crown, at various times, without the slightest impeachment
of its honor. But whilst this opinion Avas firmly held, still,
the Sovereign having repeatedly confirmed the original
grants, it was impossible to treat the grantees in any other
manner than as the lawfid possessors of the soil.

Assuming, then, the sufficiency of the original grants, and
the binding authority of the leases, the commissioners were
clearly of opinion that the leasehold tenure should be con-
verted into freehold. It was, they said, equally the interest
of the imperial and local governments that this should be
done, that agrarian questions should be swept from the field
of controversy, that Her Majesty's ministers might be no
longer assailed by remonstrance and complaint, and that the
public men in the island might turn their attention to the
development of its resowrces.

138 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Assuming, therefore, that a compulsory compromise was
inevitable, the question arose : upon wliat terms sLoul*^ the
proprietors be compelled to sell, and the tenants be at liberty
to purchase ?

In answer to this important question, the commissioners
awarded that tenants who tendered twenty years' purchase
to their landlords, in cash, should be entitled to a discount
often percent., and a deed conveying the fee-simple of their
farms. Where the tenant preferred to pay by instalments,
he should have that privilege ; but the landlord would not
be bound to accept a less sum than ten pounds at any time ;
nor shc-uld the tenant have a louGfcr time than ten vears to
liquidate the debt. The tenants whose lands were not
worth twenty years' purchase, and who therefore declined
to pay that amount, might tender to their landlords what
they considered the value of their fiirms. If tVe landlord,
declined to accept the amount oifered, the value should be
adjusted by arbitration. If the sum tendered was increased
by the award, the tenant was to pay the expenses ; if it was
not, they should be paid by the landlord. It was provided
that the rent should be reduced in proportion to the instal-
ments paid ; but no credit should be given for any such
instalments until the three years arrears allowed by the
commissioners' award were paid, nor while any rent accru-
ing after the adjustment of the value of the farm remained
due. Proprietors who held not more than fifteen thousand
acres, or such as desired to hold particular lands to that
extent, were not to be compelled to part with such lands
under the award. Leases under a term of less than forty
years were not affected by the award.

With regard to arrears of rent due, it was awarded by
the commissioners that a release of all arrears, beyond
those which had accrued during the three years preceding^

THE LAKD COMMISSION OF 18G0. 139

the first of INIaj, would be for tlie benefit of both landlords
and tenants.

"With re^rard to the case of the descendants of the loyalists
who sought homes in Prince Edward Island after the confis-
cation of their properties in the old revolted colonies, the
commissioners considered that they had claims on the local
government. His ^^lajesty's government, in 1783, felt the
full force of the claims of thoir ancestors, and was sincere
in its desire to make a liberal provision for them ; but the
rights which they had then acquired, when the proprietors
had engaged to make certain grants of land for their benefit,
were, unfortunately, not enforced. The commissioners re-
commended tliat the local government should make free
grants to such as could prove that their fathers hud been lured
to the island under promises which had never been fulfilled.

With regard to the claims of the descendants of the
original French inhabitants, the commissioners, with every
desire to take a generous view of the sufi\irings of persons
whose only crime was adherence to the Aveaker side in a
great national struggle, could not, after the lapse of a cen-
tury, rescue them from the ordinary penalties incident to a
state of war.

The Indian claims were limited to Lennox Island, and to
grass lands around it : and as it appeared by evidence that
the Indians had been in uninterrupted occupancy of the
property for more than half a century, and had built a
chapel and several houses on the island, the commissioners
were of opinion that their title should be confirmed, and
that this very small portion of the wide territory their fore-
fathers formerly owned should be left in the midisturbed
possession of this last remnant of the race.

The commissioners closed their repc^rt by expressing their
conviction that, should the general principles propounded be

140 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

accepted in the sj)irit by whicli they were animated, and
followed l)y practical legislation, tlie colony would start for-
ward with renewed energy, dating a new era from the year
1861. la such an event, the British government would
have nobly atoned for any errors in its past policy, the
le"-islature would no longer be distracted with efforts to
close the courts upon pi-oprietors, or to tamper with the
currency of the island ; tlie cry of tenant-i'ights would cease
to disguise the want of practical statesmanship, or to over-
awe the local administration ; men who had hated and
disturbed each other would be reconciled, and pursue their
common interests in mutual co-operation ; roads would
be levelled, breakwaters built, the river-beds dredged,
new fertilizers applied to a soil annually drained of its
vitality ; emigration would cease, and population attracted
to the wild lands would enter upon their cultivation,
unembarrassed by the causes wliich perplexed the early
settlers. AVeighed down by the burden of the iovestigation,
the commissioners had sometimes felt doubtful of any bene-
ficial results ; but they now, at the close of their labors,
indulged the hope that, if their suggestions were adopted,
enfranchised and disenthralled from the poisoned garments
that enfolded her. Prince Edward Island would yet become
the Barbadoes of the Saint Lawrence.

Our limits will not admit of a more extended account of
the commi ioncrs' report, which constitutes a most im-
portant portion of the annals of the island. We hope we
have succeeded in giving the kernel of it. It is impossible
for any candid person to rise from the perusal of the docu-
ment, as well as of the voluminous body of facts and
evidence on wliich it is based, without the conviction that
the work was committed to men whose experience and
acquirements eminently fitted them for the onerous duty

REMARKS ON THE AWARD OF I860. 141

entrusted to them, and without feeling that they were in-
spired with the desire to do justice to all the interests
involved. They condemned — and most justly — the imperial
government, which had originally granted the land in such
enormous quantity to eacli grantee, on the ground of public
services, the merits of which it was most difficult for the
commissioners to estimate. To sav the truth, in the case of
many of the grantees, it woidd require a microscope of no
ordinary power to detect their existence. The conditions
attached to the grants were deliberately disregarded by the
bulk of the proprietors, who, up to the time the commission
was appointed, continued to wield an amount of influence in
the councils of successive Sov figns, which successfully
frustrated every effort made by the people to obtain justice.
The emigrants wdio left their native land w^ere under the
impression that they were to be conducted to a country
where they might speedily attain, by moderate industry, to
independence ; where advantages were to be obtained which
could not be got in other portions of the vast continent of
America. In four years from the date of the original grants
a third of the land was to be actually settled ; within ten
years there was to be a settler to every hundred acres of land ;
as evidence that there was to be no lack of protestant clergy-
men, one hundred acres were allotted for a church and glebe ;
and as a guaranty that the schoolmaster would be found at
home, thirty acres were allotted to him in this prospectively
populous and happy island. The honor of the British gov-
ernment was committed as a guaranty for the realization of
these brilliant promises. But during the first ten years the
terms/ as to population, were complied with in ten townships
only, nine being partially settled, and forty-eight utterly
neglected. The proprietors, knowing that they could get
the British government to do what they pleased, petitioned,

142 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ill tlie year after the grants were made, for a separate gov-
ernment, and tlic expense was to be met by the quitrents,
wliich, however, they took good care not to pay ; and as a
reward for the concession of a separate government, Britain
had to pay for the maintenance of the civil establishment of
the island. Thirty years after tlie grants were made, the
assembly passed resolutions which set forth clearly the
extent to which the obligations under which tlie proprietors
had come were disregarded, and petitioned that they might
be compelled to fulfil the conditions on which they had
obtained the land, or that it should be escheated and grouted
in small tracts to actual settlers. In shameful violation of
the principles of national honor and justice, the represen-
tations of the people, through their representatives, were
disregarded, in consequence of the influence brought to bear,
by the grantees, on a weak and incompetent government ;
and thus there was on the part of Britain a flagrant breach
of faith with the immigrants who had been tempted to leave
their native country, trusting to guarantees the violation of
which was never suspected. The people of the island con-
tinued for ninety years to protest against the injury under
which they suffered, till at last a commission was appointed.
Credit must be given to the commissioners for the thorough-
ness of their investigation, for the reliability of their facts,
and for the impartiality and general soundness of their
awards. Yet the report seems to lack necessary pungency
and power in dealing with the iniquity of successive govern-
ments in failing to make compensation to the island immi-
grants and their successors for injuries persistently inflicted,
and borne with a degree of patience that excites our wo.ndcr.
Instead, however, of such injuries generating sympathy or ad-
miration, leading to a rectification of admitted evils, the only
result was a flow of official twaddle about the sacred rights of

REMARKS ON THE AWARD OF 18G0. 143

property, and the iluty of obedience to iniperiiil edicts relating
to the soil, — edicts of which any civilized country might
well be ashamed, and to which no parallel can be found in
the voluminous annals of the colonial possessions of an em-
pire on which the sun never sets. AVhile inmiigrants to other
portions of America obtained good land in fee-simple for the
merest trifle, and were working their way to competence
and independence, the farmers of Prince Edward I;. 'and.
weighed down by rent, were doomed to clear the forest and
improve the land, finding themselves in many cases, in their
old age, no richer than on their arrival in the country,
with no prospect before their families but hard woik, and
with no hope of a permanent or adequate return. Happily,
the fearful diificulties encountered by the early settlers do
not exist — at least in the same degree — now ; and by dint
of economy, hard work, and self-denial, not a few have
attained to comparative comfort and independence. The
commissioners say : " the grievances of the island have
sprung from the injudicious mode in which the lands were
originally given away." That is only half the trutli. The
Crown had the abstract right to grant the land in blocks of
twenty thousand acres each ; but tJie Crown had not the
right, after the conditions on which the land had been
allotted were published, and its good faith had been com-
mitted to the fulfilment of these conditions by the owners
on pain of forfeiture, to permit their violation without the
infliction of the penalty. Thousands, on the faith of these
conditions being honestly implemented, had staked their
prospects in life. The original immigrants would not
have come to Prince Edward Island as tenants Avhile they
might have obtained free land elsewhere, unless compen-
satory advantages had been offered. These advantages were
implied in the conditions of settlement attached to the

144 -HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

grants. When, therefore, the British government permittetl
the violation of the contract, they broke faith with the immi-
grants, and became morally and constitntionally responsi-
ble for the consequences of such violation. The remedy
was in the hands of the Crown. The original proprietors
having failed to keep their engagements, the clear and honest
duty of the Crown was to declare the land of such proprie-
tors escheated, and, as compensation to the emigrants, to
make moderate free grants to them of a portion of it.
Instead of adopting this manly and honest course, the
Crown ignored the injury inflicted on the tenants, and
allowed the proprietors to retain their land in a wilderness
state, thus causing long-continued misery and bitterness in
the island, and almost permanently obscuring the lustre of
one of the brightest gems in the British colonial diadem.
The charge of indifference to the just complaints of the
people cannot be brouglit against the successive local legis-
latures and governments of the island. Law after law was
enacted, and petition after petition was laid at the foot of
the throne. The peoph net in masses and prayed for
relief. Verily, there was no lack of importunity ; but the
official ear — always open to the complaints and repre-
sentations of manv landholders and their satellites, who
were ever sensitive to the imaginary rights, but totally
oblivious of the real duties of property — was conveniently
deaf to the groans of an oppressed people. Year after year
passed without any efFectiial remedy being applied, and the
original proprietors either died or transferred their property
to others ; and for a long period, before the appointment of
the commission, the answer to all appliciitions to the colo-
nial office for escheat w^as the mc' choly chant of too late!
too late! Father Time and his progeny proscription now
presented barriers which w^ere deemed insuperable. Every

EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF LAND GRANTS. lio

successive minister for the colonies became expert at count-
ing on his fingers the number of years that liad chipsed since
the British government broke faith witli the people of Prince
Edward Island, and re-echoed the chant, " Too late! too
late ! " It must be conceded that, after the lapse of so long
a period, it was impossible, without positive injury to pro-
prietors who were in no way responsible for existing evil.s,
to escheat the land, and the views taken by the commis-
sioners on this point must commend themselves to eve y
unprejudiced mind ; but, admitting all this, tlie question
occurs, was it too late to fix blame in the proper quarter, and
to repair the damage sustained by the island? Certainly
not. We think it must be regarded as a radivjal defect in
the report of the commissioners that no pointed answer was
given to that question. It was unfortunately too late to
make compensation to those who first came to the country
on the faith of imperial pledges which were not redeemed,
and who, after a life of toil, had passed the bourne whence
no traveller returns, leaving an inheritance of difficiJty and
trouble to their sons and daughters ; but it ^a- is not too late
to make honorable compensation to the latter, and, at the
same time, justice to the present owners of the soil, by buy-
ing the land with money out of the public treasury of the
mother country, and giving it to those whose just claims had
been so long criminally disregarded. Whilst in the plainest
terms the commissioners admitted that the island grievances
sprung from the injudicious mode in which the lands were
originally given away, they did not press for due compensa-
tion being made by the country whose rulers had produced
these grievances, but recommended that the imperial gov-
ernment should guarantee a loan for the purchase of the
land of one hundred thousand pounds, on the production, by
the island authorities, of most satisfactory security for the

146 IIISTOUY OF rUINX'E EDWARD ISLAND.

payment of principal and intorost. In plain Enfjlisli, the
ajrgrieved parties were made practically responsible for op-
pression in the prodnction of Avhich they had no hand, and
for which, therefore, they oonld in no legitimate sense be
held responsible. On the assnmption that the British gov-
ernment were not accoimtable, the award of the commis-
sioners was admirable ; but, assuming their responsibility,
the cost of rectification was recommended to be borne by
the wrong parties.

Let it not be for a moment supposed that it is intended by
these remarks to foster discontent in the island, to weaken
the bonds which unite it to the old country, or to generate a
sj)irit of disloyalty to the Crown or dissatisfaction towards
good landlords. Were the writer inspired by so criminal a de-
sire, his efforts would fail in the production of any such
consequences. The people have learned to put no confidence
either in governments or princes ; but, under Almighty
favor, by economy, temperance, and hard work, to trust to
their own eiibrts in sweeping from the island the remnants
of a pernicious system, and of attaining that measure of
independence and prosperity to which such formidable ob-
stacles have been presented, but the ultimate realization of
which the capabilities of the island warrant. Since the
island became British property, not a petition or complaint
has been laid at the foot of the throne which has not
breathed the most devoted loyalty ; and the people, under
trials which might have tested the patience of Job, have
borne them with a degree of meekness and patience to
which few parallels can be produced ; and at this moment
the Le.loved Queen of Great Britain has not more sturdy,
faithful, and resolute defenders of her throne and person
than the inhabitants of Prince Edward Island. Loyalty
must be indigenous to a soil where, mider such adverse con-
ditions, it has taken such deep root and flourishes. - ^

GENERAL CENSUS. 147

In the very year wlicu tlie conimisisiioiiers Atcrc prosecut-
ing their intjuiries, Prince EdNvard Ishmd responded to the
call for a dct'ensiive force by or'ranizing twenty companies of
volunteers, mustering upwards of a thousand men, showing
a degree of loyalty, zeal, and energy in that direction
inferior to no other portion of the (Queen's dominions.

A general census of the island was taken in 18G1. The
popidation was then — as certified in the most accurate re-
turns— eighty thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, includ-
ing three hundred and fifteen Indians. The churches
numbered one hundred and fifty-six ; schoolhouses, three
hundred and two ; and public teachers, two hundred and
eighty. There were eighty-nine fishing establishments on
the island, which produced twenty-two thousand barrels of
herrings and gasperaux, seven thousand barrels of mackerel,
thirty-nine thousand quintals of codfish, and seventeen thou-
sand gallons of fish-oils. There were one hundred and
forty-one grist-mills, one hundred and seventy-six saw-mills,
and forty-six carding-mills ; fifty-five tanneries, manufactur-
ing one hundred and forty-three thousands pounds of leather.
The executive government having, in 18G1, appointed
commissioners to superintend the collection of products and
manufactures of the island for the London exhibition of
1862, the duiy was judiciously performed, and the articles
forwarded to the e^ibition under the charge of Mr. Henry
Haszard, the secretary to the commissioners.

A profound sensation was caused in the island by intelli-
gence of the seizure of Me;5srs. ^fasou and Slidell, civil ser-
vants of the Southern States, when under the protection of
the English flag, on their passage from Havana to Eng-
land on board the steamsiiip Trent. A remonstrance was
forwarded by the British government to that of the North-
ern States ; and the act of the commander of the San

148 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Jacinto — the American vessel by which tlie outrage was
committed — having been disapproved of" by the American
governmeut, the Southern commis.sioners were set at liberty,
and the dispute happily terminated.

On the eighth of January, 18G2, intelligence of the death
of His Royal Highness Prince Albert reached the island.
He died at Windsor Castle on the fourteenth of December,
18GI, in the forty-second year of his age. Official intima-
tion of his death was communicated to the lieutenant-
governor by the Duke of Newcastle, and His Excellency
ordered that forty-two minute-guns should be fired from
Saint George's Battery at twelve o'clock, noon ; and Her
Majesty's faithful subjects were enjoined to put themselves
into mourning. The life of the departed Prince Avas one of
singular purity and usefulness, and his memory will forever
stand honorably associated with that of Queen Victoria, than
whom a more virtuous and beloved Sovereign never swayed
a British sceptre. An address of condolence to Her Ma-
jesty was adopted by the legislature.

In answer to a despatch from the governor to the colonial
secretary, requesting that he should be favored with a copy
of the land commissioners' report. His Excellency received
a despatch from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the seventh
of February, 1862, accompanied by a copy of the report,
which was anxiously desired by the people. His Grace
said that he was desirous of expressing his appreciation of
the painstaking, able, and impartial report which the com-
missioners had furnished, — a report which would derive
additional weight from its unanimity, and which was the
result of an investigation so complete that it had exhausted
the material for inquiry into the facts of the case. The
difficulties that remained were those which were inherent in
the subject, and which had, for a long course of years.

LOAN NOT GRANTED. 149

baffled every atteiii|;t at solution. His Grace, at the same
time, held out no hope — for reasons which ho did not state
— that the h)an of one hundred thousand pounds, in order to
buy the estates of Prince PMward Island from their present
owners, would he guaranteed. Mr. Labouchere, the colo-
nial minister, su^rgesteu such a loan in 1855, and it was
warmly advocated by Lord Stanley in 1858, when he held
that otlice ; and the people of the island had fair ground for
additional complaint against the home government, when
that government did not condescend even to state manfully
the reasons for such a point-blank refusal, more especially as
the commissioners had advocated most earnestly the imperial
guaranty of such a loan, — such recommendation being one
of the cardinal points in their award. The duke further
intimated in the despatch that there appeared to be insuper-
able objections to that multiplicity of separate land arbitra-
tions which would be the effect of the alternative measure
alluded to in the commissioners' report. Shorn of the vital
portions of the award, which were thus politely ignored, the
report was divested, to a large extent, of its immediate prac-
tical value ; and the official compliment paid to the commis-
sioners was but very poor compensation for the rejection
of incomparably the most important portions of an .award
which had been arrived at after a painstaking and complete
investigation, in the conduct of which was enlisted an
amount of patience, impartiality, discrimination, and ability
which it would be diificult to match. The secret of the mild
manner in which imperial delinquencies, in the treatment of
Prince Edward Island, were touched upon in this production
may probably be found in a due appreciation by the commis-
sioners of governmental sensitiveness on the point, producing
the conviction that to ask for more than would probably be
granted would injure — rather than promote — just claims to
compensation.

l.'O IIISTOIIY OF riMNX'E KDWARD ISLAND.

The a»seml)ly met in Fobnuiiy, ami julopte*! a resolution,
by a vote of twenty-three to wix, pK'dging itself to introduce
a measure to confirm the award of the {;omniis.sioners in all
its provisions. The action of the assembly in thus, without
hesitation, honorably abiding by the award of the commia-
sioners, witliout cavil or c«mi})laint, was highly creditable to
its character ; but the award did not niei't with the same
degree of approval at the hands of the landowners who were
parties to tlie appointment of the connnission. The Duke
of Newcastle addrcssetl a despatch to the governor, dated
the fifth of April, 18C2, enclosing a tlraft bill, drawn up by
the proprietors, for settling the ditfereuces between landlords
and tenants on certain townships, in the preamble of which
it was stated that the commissioners, in proviiling that the
value of land should be ascertained by arbitrators, to be
appointed by the landlords and tenants, exceeded the autho-
rity intended to be given to them by the assembly and the
proprietors, and if their suggestion were adopted, disputes
and litigation between the landlords and tenants would
ensue. Thus these gentlemen completely ignored the award
of the commissioners, and proposed to substitute a remedy
of their own. In thus acting, they had the support of the
colonial secretary ; for although, in the despatch by which the
draft bill was accompanied his Grace did not express positive
approval of the landowners' proposals, he, nevertheless, stated
that it Would give him great pleasure if Sir Samuel Cunard's
aaticipations as a v>roprietor ■.vere realized in reference to
tL.' '"1.

Two acts bad been promptly passed by the assembly on
the land question, — one to give effect to the report of the
commissioners, and another to facilitate the operation of the
award in cases of anticipated difficulty ; and the local gov-
ernment framed a minute in which they affirmed, in refer-

LOCAL GUVERSMENT ARGUMENTS. lal

ciicc to the laiidlortls' proposed hill, that tlu'V couhl not
believe that the lej'islatiire would sanction anv measure
heuriu^j on the land (piestion which nu«»ht difler essentially
from the ])rinciple.s emhodictl in the commissioners' report.
They asserted that the assemhly deemed the government
pled;?ed to carry out the award of the commission, and they
denied that the char^re preferred in the preamble of the
proprietors' bill, that the commissioners liad exceeded their
comuiission, could be substantiated. From the langua;fe of
the commission, the government argued that the powers
conferred upon them were unlimited, — amply sulUcient to
empower them to define any mode of settlement of a purely
equitable character. By a passage contained in a despatch
of the colonial secretary, he seemed to apprehend that the
arbitration system prescribed by the commissioners would
necessitate a nudtiplicity of separate local arbitrations,
which would constitute insuperable objections against this
mode of adjustment. The government, however, did not
anticipate that many of these arbitrations would take place
in the practical working of the system. In their opinion,
two or three cases on a township Avould have the ett'ect of
establisliing a scale of prices which would become a standard
of value. The minute — a temperate and well-reasoned doc-
ument— concluded with an expression of the hope that the
bills passed by the house of assembly Avould receive the
royal sanction. They reminded the colonial secretary that
the differences which the commissioners were appointed to
determine had, fur half a century, exerted a most baneful
influence upon the colony, and that the people hailed with
much satisfaction the prospect of having them adjusted.^
Shoul"^ tuy thing occur to prevent such adjustment, the con-
sequences would be of a very serious nature, and result in
causing much anxiety to Her Majesty's ministers, and alsa
to the local goverunieut.

152 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

To this minute, which was dated the twenty-second of
July, 1862, the Duke of Newcastle replied in a despatch of
the ninth of August, following. He expressed regret that
he could not concur in the views of the government. The
main questions which the commissioners were appointed to
decide were : first, at what rate tenants ought to be allowed
to acquire freehold interests in their property; and, next,
what amount of arrears of rent should be remitted by the
landlords. On the first and most important of these ques-
tions, the commissioners professed themselves unable to
come to any conclusion, and, instead of deciding it, they
recommended, virtually, that it should be decided by other
arbitrators, to be hereafter nominated. This, however, he
said, was not what they were charged to do : they were
authorized by the proprietors to make an award themselves,
but they Avere not authorized to transfer the duty of making
that award to others. The trust confided to them was a
personal one. The proprietors relied on the skill, knowl-
edge, and fairness of the three gentlemen appointed in 1860 ;
and they could not, therefore, be called upon, in deference to
these gi^jntlemen's opinion, to confide their interests even to
arbitrators specially designated in the award, much less to
persons whose very mode of appointment was undetermined
by it. This objection might be waived by the proprietors,
but it was not waived ; and being insisted on, the colonial
secretary said he was obliged to admit that it was conclu-
sive, and he was bound further to say that it was, in his
opinion, an objection founded, not on any technical rule of
law, but on a sound and indisputable principle of justice, —
the principle, namely, that a person who has voluntarily
submitted his case to the decision of one man, cannot, there-
fore, be compelled, without his consent, to tracsfer it to the
decision of another.

ACTS NOT SANCTIONED. 153

For these reasons, the colonial minister did not advise
Ber Majesty to sanction the two acts which had been for-
warded and whicli were, of course, intended to render the
award obligatory on all who h.ad consented to the reference.
The report of the commissioners was therefore regarded by
the home government simply as an expression of "opinion
which was not binding, and which ought not to be allowed
to stand in the way of any other proposal which promised
an amicable settlement of the question.

: - ■ '<

Tf , I » ^

CHAPTER IX.

Bill to miike the Legislative Council elective— Change of Government— AtT-
dress to the Queen, craving to give eject to the Commissioners' Awai'd —
A Review of recent Proceedings in regard to the Land Question— The As-
sembly willing to meet the views of Proprietors in regard to the appoint-
ment ot Commissioners — The Assembly and the Commissioners right,,
and the Colonial Secretary wrong— The lleason-wliy given— The rejection-
of the Award unreasonable— Delegates sent to England on the Land Q.ues.-
tion— The Result.

||VHE house of assoinbly met on the second of December^
1862, for the j -ipose of considering the present posi-
tion of the hmd question, with a view to a speedy
sohition. In his opening speech, the lieutenant-governor
stated that he had received a despatch from the colonial
secretary, informing him that the royal assent had been
given to an act (whicli had been introduced by the Honor-
able Mr. Ilaviland) to change the constitution of the legis-
lative council, by rendering the same elective. This made
it necessary to dissolve the house before it could enter on
the Special business for the transaction of which it had been
convened. The new election would aiford an opportunity
to the people to express a decided opinion as to the award ;
and the issue was looked forward to with deep interest.
The election resulted in a large majority approving of
that docmnent. The new house met early in March.
The opening paragraph of the governor's speech referred
to the marriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of
"Wales to the Princess Alexandra, of Denmark, which
had been recently consummated. Reference was also made
in the speech to the decision of the colonial secretary, that

NEW GOVERNMENT. loS*

the commissioners on the hmd question had exceeded their
powers in their report ; but His Excellency expressed liis
conviction that the house would exert itself to find a satis-
factory solution of the difficulties which had so long retarded
the prosperity of the island.

On the governor's speech being read, Colonel Gray said
that the members of the government having tendered their
resignations, he had been commanded by His Excellency to
form a new administration, and he accordingly announced
the following names as comprising His Excellency's respon-
sible advisers : John Hamilton Gray, president of the coun-
cil ; Edward Palmer, attorney general ; James Yeo, John
Longworth, James C. Pope, David Kaye, James McLean,
Daniel Davies, and AYilliam Henry Pope, colonial secretary.
Amongst the first business submitted to the house was an
address to the Queen, in which the whole history of the
appointment and proceedings of the commission was detailed,
and praying that Her Majesty would cause it to be notitied
to the proprietors affected by the award that unless cause
to the contrary should be shown oefore a judicial tribunal,
to be appointed by Her Majestv, her sanction would be
given to the bills passed to give eiTect to the award. That
address was duly forwarded by the governor to the colonial
secretary, and His Grace's decision in regard to its contents
was given fully in a despatch, dated the eleventh of July,
1863. The duke observed that, as he was not aware of any
method by which the question couhl be submitted to any
court of justice, and as the council and assembly had not
suggested any such method, he considered that the course
most satisfactory to them would be that of ascertaining from
the law officers of the Crown, first, whether the so-called
award was, in itself, liable to any objection founded upon
any principle of law or equity ; and next, whether it wad

156 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

possible, by any proceeding in law or equity, to give effect
to the wish of the Prince Edward Island legislature, by
enabling the proprietors or tenants to show cause why Her
Majesty's assent should or should not be given to the pro-
posed bill for giving effect to the award of the commissioners.
In their replies to the questions put, the law officers of the
Crown, Sir William Atherton and Sir Roundell Palmer, said
that they did not consider the term " award" applicable with
any propriety to the report of the commissioners of inquiry.
There was no reference or submission, properly so-called.
The gentlemen who signed the letter to the duke, dated the
thirteenth of February, 18 GO, were incompetent to bind
the general body of proprietors of land in Prince Ed-
ward Island, and had not attempted or professed to do so.
And on the other hand, it was clear that they did not prO"
pose or intend by that letter to bind themselves individually,
unless the general body of proprietors would be also bound.
The writer has put some of the words of the law officers of
the Crown in italics, in order that the reader may specially
mark them as bearing upon subsequent remarks which he
intends to offer. The law officers were further of opinion,
upon the substance of the case, that the commissioners had
not executed the authority which alone was proposed to be
conferred upon them on the part of the landowners who
signed the letter of the thirteenth February, 18G0 ; and that
a recommendation that the price to be paid by a tenant for
the purchase of his land should be settled, in each particular
instance in which the landlord and tenant might differ about
the same, by arbitration, was not, either literally or sub-
stantially, within the scope of that authority. The law
officers of the Crown thus fortified the position taken by the
Duke of Newcastle and the proprietors, in reference to the
award of the commissioners. . .

REVIEW OF LAND COMMISSIONERS* REPORT. 157

In coming to a just decision respecting the conflicting
opinions which we have endeavored to present with precision
and clearness, it is necessary to review the whole proceedings.
• In the year 1858, Sir Edward Buhver Lytton, secretary of
state for the colonies, intimated to the lieutenant-governor of
Prince Edward Island that the whole question of the land
tenures was engaging his anxious attention, and that it would
give him unfeigned pleasure to receive such suggestions for
their amicable settlement as could be accepted by Her
Majesty's government. In consequence of the expression of
this wish, the house of assembly adopted certain resolutions
praying for the appointment of a commission as otfering in
their judgment the best means for the satisfactory adjust-
ment of existing disputes, intimating at the same time that,
in the opinior ^f the house, the basis of such adjustment
would be fou. a large remission of arrears of rent, and

in giving every tenant, holdiig under a long lease, the power
to purchase his farm at a certain tixed rate. In the mean
time a change took place in the imperial government, and
the Duke of Newcastle became colonial secretary, who wrote
in a despatch dated the sixth September, 18^, " that any
prospect of a beneticial result from the labors of the com-
mission would be nullified if its action were fettered by con-
ditions such as the assembly proposed. I cannot," said his
grace, " advise Her Majesty to entertain the question,
imless it is fully understood that the commipsioners are at
liberty to propose any measure which they themselves may
deem desirable." A copy of the memorial of the house
was sent by order of the Duke to Sir Samuel Cunard,
requesting him to call a meeting of landlords, for the purpose
of ascertaining whether there were any concessions which
they were willing to make, with a view to bring the
questions in dispute to an amicable issue. To the letter of'

158 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

his grace, Sir Samuel aiul other proprietors replied, that
they Avoul<l readily acquiesce in any arrangement that miglit
he practicahle for tlie purpose of settling the various questions
aUuded to in the memorial of tlie liouse of assemldy, hut
that they did not think tlie appointment of commissioners,
in the manner proposed, would ]>e the most desirahle mode
of procedure, as the labors of such commissioners would
only terminate in a report which would not he binding on
any of the parties interested, and they — the ])roprietors —
proposed that three commissioners or referees should be
appointed, — one to be named by Her Majesty, one by the
house of assembly, and one by the proprietors, — and that
they should have power to enter on all the inquiries that
might be necessary, and to decide on the different questions
that might be brought before them, giving, of course, to the
parties interested, an opportunity of being heard.

The house of assembly, instead of throwing any obstacle
in the way of the proposed arrangement, at once agreed to
the suggestions of the colonial secretary and the proprietors,

.and to abide by the decision of the commissioners, or the

.majority of them, and pledged themselves to concur in
whatever measures might be required to give validity to the
decision, — naming the Honorable Joseph Howe as com-

;missioner in behalf of the tenantry of the island.

The duko, as previously stated, expressed his satisfiction
at the promptitude of the concurrence of the asseml)ly in
the suggestions offered, and the home government and the
proprietors having named the other two commissioners, a
commission was drawn up, dated the twenty-fifth day of

.June, 1860. The commissioners executed the task com-
mitted to them, and on the eighteenth of July, 1861, trans-
mitted their report and award to the Duke of Newcastle,
who complimented the commissioners on their ability and

REVIEW OF LAND COMMISSIONEUS' HEPOUT. 159

impartiality, but at the same time objected to some of the
cardinal points of their award.

Whilst the proprietors objected to the award, and regarded
it as not bindinir upon them, the house of assembly honorably
adopted it in all its provisions. Then followed the opinion
of the law olHcers of the Crown, which Avas emphatically
favorable to the views of the colonial secretary and the
proprietors.

It is, we think, impossible to review these proceedings
carefully and impartially without cominir to the conclusion
that the colonial secretary, the proprietors, and the Crown
lawyers were wrong, and the government and the legislature
of Prince Edward Island right, in the view ^vhich they took
of the powers and functions with which the commissioners
were invested. There is a very strong presumption, it may
be remarked, that the commissioners — three gentlemen of
acknowledged ability and experience — could not have mis-
taken, so completely as the rejection of their award assumed,
the nature of their duties ; and during the course of the in-
vestigation there is not the shadow of a doubt that the
almost universal opinion in the island was, that the coming
award of the commissioners was to be held as a final settle-
ment of the questions at issue, so far as the parties who
deliberately appointed them were concerned. That such
was the opinion of the proprietors, is proved by the most
important and significant fact that, in the communication
they addressed to the Duke of Newcastle on the thirteenth of
February, 1860, they took exception to the appointment of
a commissioner or commissioners in the manner proposed by
the legislature, on the specific ground that the resulting
decision " would not be binding on any of the parties inter-
ested " ; and, in order to make the anticipated award
positively binding, they proposed an alteration in the con-

160 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

stitution of the proposed commission, which was uuhesitat-
iugly adopted. Hon-, iu the face of tliis fact, Sir William
Athcrton and Sir llouudell Palmer could come to the con-
clusion that the consenting proprietors did not intend, by
the letter to which we have alluded, " to bind themselves,
individually, unless the general body of proprietors would
also be bound," seems incomprehensible. The proprietors
who subscribed the letter were perfectly aware that unan-
imity amongst the proprietors could not at present be
obtained. They did not complain of the absence of sucli
unaniniity, nor did they even insinuate that it would by
them be regarded as a necessary condition of adherence to
the anticipated decision of the commissioners. It is impos-
sible that clear-headed men, sensitively alive to their own
interests, could have a mental reservation to that effect,
without giving it form and substance in so important a com-
munication ; nor can the monstrous notion, that whilst they
insisted on the legislature being bound, they did not regard
themselves as equally bound, be for a moment entertained.
Is it credible that the esteemed gentleman, J. W. Ritchie
(now Judge Ritchie), whom they entrusted in the reference
as their representative, could have been left in ignorance ou
so important a point? But the words of the Duke of New-
castle are decisive on this point. In his despatch of the
second January, 1861, to the lieutenant-governor, he says:
*' I trust you will impress upon the commissioners, if requi-
site, the necessity of avoiding, as far as possible, any steps
calculated to excite unreasonable expectations, or to stimu-
late agitation ; on the other hand, while assuring the pro-
prietors that the award of the commissioners will not be
enforced by Her Majesty's government against any persons
who have not, either personally or hy their representatives y
consented to refer their claims to arhitration, I should wish

THE commissioners' AWARD. ICl

you al.so to observe to tliom, that their refusal to coucur
frankly in a moasure whicli was intended to compose exist-
ing ditferences, and wliich, so far as it has yet proceeded,
has been assented to by a hirgc porti(jii of tlieir body, may
materially intluencc the conduct of Her Majesty's ^j^overii-
mont if called upon to support them in any future disputes
■with their tenants." If his grace regarded the proprietors
who had not concurred in the reference as not bound to
abi<le by it, it surely must be conceded to be good logic that
he must have believed the concurring proprietors as firmly
bound, both in point of fact and law. But it remained for
the learned law officers of the Crown to put a climax to
their decision by broadly asserting " that there was no
reference or submission, properly so called." Now, the
most eifectual answer that can be given to this statement is
the very words of the royal commission, " Xow, know ye,
that we, taking the premises into our royal consideration,
are graciously pleased to nominate and appoint, and do by
these presents nominate and appoint our trusty and well-
beloved John Hamilton Gray, Esquire, Joseph Howe,
Esquire, and John William Ritchie, Esquire, to be our
commissioners for inquirhiQ into the said d inferences ^ and
for adjusting the same on fair and equitable principles.^' If
that was not, in every legitimate sense, a reference and sub-
mission, the commission was a transparent farce, and the
English language has ceased to convey definite ideas. How
did the commissioners regard the matter? " Perhaps," said
they in their report, " no three men in British America were
ever called to arbitrate upon interests of the same magnitude,
or questions of greater delicacy afiectiug the welfare of largo
mimbers of people. If a judge or a juror, about to decide
the title to a single estate, feels the responsibility of his
position, the undersigned may be pardoned for admitting

M

162 HISTORY OF TRISCE EDWARD ISLAND.

that, with hundreds of estates, and the interests of many
thousands of persons dependent upon their adjudication,
they have only been sustained by a very sincere desire to
restore peace to a disturbed province." And wliat did all
the le;^al gentlemen who, as counsel, represented before the
commissioners the various interests involved, think of the
powers with which they — the commissioners — were in-
vested? Why, all their speeches assumed that they were
addressing tliemselves to adjudicators who had ample
authority to solve the questions in dispute. This was
admitted by Sir Samuel Cunard, as representing his co-
proprietors, after tlie award of the commissioners was
given ; for in writing the Duke of Newcastle, the law
officers of the Crown represent him as saying " that the
landlords were ready to be bound by the decision of the
three commissioners, but that they were not prepared to
hand over their interests to the proposed arbitrators, and to
embark in the expense and dispute consequent on a multi-
tude of petty arbitrations," — referring to the arbitrators pro-
posed by the commissioners to determine the value of every
individual property, with a view to purchase by the tenant.
Yet, in the face of such overwhelming evidence, the colonial
secretary had the coolness to parade the opinion of the law
officers of the Crown before the government, legislature, and
people of Prince Edward Island, that there was no reference
or award, properly so called, very prudently abstaining from
any expression of his own opinion on the point.

The principle on which the Duke of Newcastle rejected
the award was, that a man who agrees to refer his case to
one tribunal cannot, therefore, be forced to submit it to
another. The equity of that principle cannot be denied.
"What are the facts? The commissioners, unable to con-
duct an examination into all the cases, recommended that

THE COMMISSIONEBS* AWARD. 1 C3

arbitrators, mutually choson, should nndertako the work.
They laid down general principles, and left the details to he
executed by others. According to his grace's detonnina-
tion, as expressed in his own words, " It was very desirable
that the commissioners should go into the iiujuiry unfettered by
any conditions such as the assembly wished to impose." The
commissioners were enjoined by his grace " to devote their
efforts to framing such recommendations as should be de-
manded by the equity of the case," and their conclusions
*' would possess double weight if, liappily, they should be
mianimous." Their recommendations and conclusions were
adopted unanimously ; yet, in the estimation of his grace
they, after all, amounted to nothing more than an expres-
sion of opinion; for, said his grace, , addressing the lieu-
teiKint-goveruor, " I must instruct you, therefore, however
unwillingly, to treat the commissioners' award only as an
expression of opinion, which, however valuable as such,
cannot be made legally binding on the parties concerned.'*
If it was simply the opinion of the able men appointed as
commissioners that was required, it could have been prob-
ably obtained without the formalities of a royal commission,
and unaccompanied by some of the solemnities of a judicial
tribunal ; and if these gentlemen had been aware that their
investigati >ns and decisions were to be so easily " put out of
the way," it is certain they would never have condescended
to undertake the work ; nor would the government or the
legislature of the island have gone through business which
they thought possible to come, through no fault of theirs, to
so comical a termination.

But, assuming that the commissioners had mistaken the
nature of their functions in one or two particulars, on what
ground could all their decisions be rejected? Because an
error in judgment was committed in certain cases, was that

1G4 III.-JTOUY OF rUIXCE EUWAUD ISLAND.

any «^()(k1 rca-^on for suporciliously brusliin;^ aside tlio whole
report, and divi^stin;,' it of all bindiii;,' anthority? We ninst
leave the reader to aM?»\ver the (jnt-stion aecordin;^ to in's
jndurnient. Practically, the colonial secretary said to the
connni.ssioners, on the conclu.sion of their lahors : You have
conducted the investigation with ahility and impartiality;
yon have presentid a r('i)ort which has exhausted all the
facts necessary to a just decision ; but you, at the same
time, have completely mistaken the nature of your duties,
and your award, if such it can be desigiuiied, is without any
binding value, and must, therefore, be treated as simply
yoiu" opinion, and nothing more.

On the case being snbmitti'd to Sir Hugh Cairns, for his
opinion as to its legal aspects, he stated that the commis-
sioners were invested with authority to in([uire into all dif-
ferences existing between landlords and their tenants, and
to propose, as a remedy for the settlement of such diti'er-
euces, any measure which they might think desirable, —
that in consecpience of the unconstitutional course adopted
by the colonial otlice in reference to the commission, there
"vva.^ no legal validity in any of the proceedings which had
taken place. But he expressed, at the . same time, the
opinion that the proprietors who proposed the commission
were not morally justified in repudiating the finding of the
commission merely because there were certain other propri-
etors who did not become parties to the proceeding. Sir
Hugh Cairns might have added, that the home government
were, in honor, bound to sustain the award of the commis-
sioners, and to give validity to the acts of the assembly.

Impressed with the conviction that the home governmer»t,
notwithstanding its treatment of the commissioners' award,
would be disposed to give effect to principles of settlement
akin to those recommended by the commissioners, the

DELEGATION TO ENdLAND. 1G5

i.slaiwl govenimont resolviMl to send Messrs. E«hvanl Pjiliner
and W. II. Pope as delegates to England to submit IVesli con-
diti()ns, which might prove aeceptahle. In Octohcr, l-SO.S,
these gentlemen had an interview with tlie colonial secre-
tary (the Dnke of Newcastle), when the land (jnestion warf
disenssed. The proposals of tlu^ deh'gates wert' snhsiMjuently
eml)odied in a communication addressed to the colonial secre-
tary, and dated the thirteenth of October. A copy of that
communication was sent IVom the colonial otlice to Sir
Samuel Cimard, with the view of having its content.s sub-
mitted to the proprietors by that gentleman. On the four-
teenth of November, the baronet sent to the Duke of Newcastle
a reply, in which he presented, at considerable letigth, his
own views of the points at issue. He contended at the
outset that the granting of the lan<l originally in large
blocks was " an act of necessity, — that the grantees had all
lost very heavily by accepting the grants, and that no individ-
ual at present on the island had been injnre<l by that i)ro-
cceding, but, on the contrary, the grants had been a fruitful
source of profit to the present generation." This novel and
intensely absurd proposition Sir Samuel proceeded to estab-
lish by reference to the taxation to which the proprietors
were suiyected, and the various measures which had been
passed by the local legislature, and confirmed by the home
government. Early in December following, Sir Sanniel
addressed another letter to the Duke of Newcastle, enclos-
ing a bill which, he said, would be acceptablo to the propri-
etors if adopted in its integrity. To the baronet's letters and
bill, Mr. Pope replied, in an able and exhaustive communi-
cation, dated the eighteenth of December, which concluded
in the following words : " T regret to say, that I cannot
construe Sir Samuel Cunard's communication, on the sub-
ject of the proposals for the settlement of the land question,

166 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

in any other sense than as indicative of unwillingness, on his
part at least, to make any such reasonable concessions to the
tenantry as would afford that relief which is essential, in
order to secure the colony generally from those much-to-be-
dreadcd ovils which nccv!«sarily result from wide-spread
agrarian agitation."

Tlic delegates returned to Prince Edward Island, and
presented an elaborate report of their proceedings. No
further attempt was made to settle the land question till, at
the suggestion — as we are given to understand — of the
proprietors, an act was introduced, in 1864, for settling
the differences between landlord and tenant, and to enable
tenants on certain townships to purchase the fee-simple of
their farms at fifteen years' rent. This act passed, and was
supplemented in the following year by another act to facili-
tate the working of the previous one, — authorising the gov-
ernment to provide a sum not exceedin'jc fifty thousand
pounds, in order to enable tenants to pu:c]..ise their lands, —
no leaseholder or tenant being entitled to aid beyond one
half the purchase-money of his farm.

Here we must refer to an important mission on which the
Honorable Joseph Ilensley was sent by the island govern-
ment to Eliigland, in the year 1867. He was autho-
rized to raise a loan of money for the public services of the
island ; to apply to iho various proprietors of township lands
in Great Britain and Ireland, and ascertain the terms upon
which they would be willing to sell their lands to the gov-
ernment ; and also to submit the views of the executive
council to the imperial government in relation to a demand
for the payment of nearly five thousand pounds, sterling,
made for the transport and maintenance of troops. This
force had been demanded to suppress disturbances which
occurred on the island in 18G5, and which were the very

JOSEPH IIENSLEY A DELEGATE. 167

natural result of tliat vicious svstcm of land tenure, for the
origiu and conlinuanee of which the imperial government
was responsible. Mr. Hensley poured into tlie car of the
colonial secretary (the Duke of Buckingliam) wholesome
truths concerning the constant source o*' trouble, expense,
and discontent the system had proved, and tlie extent to
which the prosperity of the colony had been thereby retarded.
The demand of tJie imperial government was consequently
modified. With respect to the loan of fifty thousand pounds,
sterling, which Mr. llensley was empowered to arrange, he
wisely deferred, for solid financial reasons, placing the
applicj *Ion before the public, and otherwise executed his
commission with discretion, diligence, and ability.

The confederation of the island with the Dominion having
been effected, in a manner hereafter to be descriljed, and
according "to stipuhition under the terms of miion. — eight
hundred thousand dollars having been placed at tiie disposal
of the island government for the settlement of a question
which, through the disgraceful supineness of successive imper-
ial governments, had been a perpetual source of strife and
bitter contention for a nearly century, — the government of the
island, as a forlorn hope, resolved to take further action in
order to ensure a settlement of the question, by introducing
the land purchase act of 1875, luhich received the formal
sanction of the governor-general of the Dominion. This
act provided that commissioners should be appointed to
determine tlie value of the various estates whose sale, under
the provisions of the act, was to be rendered compulsory.
The lieutenant-governor of the island was to appoint one
commissioner ; the governor-general of the Dominion an-
other ; and a third was to be appointed by each of the
proprietors whose land was to be valued. As we write,
the commissioaers are sitting, and the value of the lauds is

1G8 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

being irrevocably determined. The measure, thougli one
of absolute necessity, — so far as the local government and
the interest of the tenants are concerned, — must be regarded
as the most unconstitutional act that ever received imperial
sanction. It may be safely affirmed, that its parallel is not
to be found in the British Statute Book. In its principle, it
is antagonistic to the fundamental rights of property, as
universally recognized in civilized states. The act, as a
precedent, will, doubtless, be cast in the teeth of the
owners of British property by our modern communists, the
tendency of whose views finds the solemn sanction of
law in this measure. It is unjust to the landlord, inas-
much as it comjiels him to sell his land even when he deems
it his interest to retain it ; and it is unjust to the tenant, as
it necessitates his paying, if he be desirous of securing the
fee-simple of the land, a comparatively high price. But it
is an act of governmental r .cessity, as further delay would
greatly enhance the value of landed property, and thus
render the prospects of the tenant still more unsatisfactory.
Far bcfter, however, that millions of pounds sterling were
devoted by Great Britain to the compensation of the land-
lords and tenants of Prince Edward Island, than that so
pernicious an act should disgrace the British Colonial
Statute Book.

<^,^ ^;/?.

&■

CHAPTER X.

Mr. James C. I'oi)e and the IJailwaj'— Assimilation of tlie Currency— Con-
federation—Conlercnre in Ciiarlottetown— Sketch of Kflward Wliehm and
T. II. Haviland— Oitposition to Confederation— Resolations in the Assem-
blj'— Offer of Terms to J. C. Pope— Further Troceedings— Tlie Question
of Confederation Resumed — Delegations to Ottawa — Messrs. Ilaytliorne
and Laird — Messrs. Pope, Ilavihmd, and Howlan— Final Settlement of
the Question.

i

F O the IIoDorable James C. Pope belon^-s the honor of
being tlie first to take legislative action of a commend-
ably energetic cliaracter, in order to secure to the
island admirable facilities for intercommunication by means
of a railway. On the third of April, in the session of
1871, that gentleman submitted a resolution to the house of
assemblv, which was seconded bv the attornev-i^eneral, Hon.
Mr. Lrecken, to the eflect that the trade and exports of the
island having much increased during the past few years, it
"was found impossible, in the absence of stone or gravel, to
keep the roads in an efficient state of repair. It Avas con-
tended that the construction and efRcient maintenance of a
line of railway througli the island would greatly facilitate
its trade, develop its resources, enlarge its revenue, and
open more frequent and easy communication with the neigh-
boring provinces and the United States. It was, therefore,
proposed to introduce a bill authorizing the goverimient to
midertake the construction of a railway, to extend from
Cascumpec to Georgetown, touching at Summerside and
Charlottetown, and also branches to Souris and Tignish, at
a cost not exceeding five thousand pounds, currency, the
mile, including all the necessary appliances suitable for a.-

170 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

good railroad, provided tliat tlie contractors would accept in
payment the debentures of Prince Edward Island. The
Honorable Mr. Sinclair proposed an amendment condemna-
tory of this resolution, on the ground that a general election
for both branches of the legislature had recently taken place ;
that the question of constructing a railway was not then
properly before the counti/; and that two petitions were
before the house against the proposed undertaking, and none
in its favor. On a division, Mr. Pope's resolution was
carried by seventeen to eleven votes. A committee, con-
sisting of the Honorable Mr. Pope, the Honorable Mr.
Howlan, the Honorable the Attorney General, the Honor-
able Mr. Perry, and Mr. Richards, was then appointed to
prepare and bring in a bill in accordance with the resolution
passed by the assembly. The bill A\'as immediately pre-
sented, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on the following day. The bill was accordingly read
a second time, and committed to a committee of the whole
house, — Mr. Beer being chairman. On the main question
being put, the mcasui'c was approved by eighteen to eleven
votes. The report of the committee was then received, and
the bill engrossed under the title of " An act to authorize
the construction of a railway through Prince Edward
Island." Thus, in two d.^ys from the time of its introduc-
tion, the bill received the sanction of the assembly ; and it
may be safely affirmed that few measures have ever been
passed by the representatives of the people of greater impor-
tance, as bearing on the material interests of the island. It
is only fair to state that it was mainly througli the tact,
energy, and determination of Mr. James C. Pope that the
scheme was carried to successful completion.

. During this session an act was also passed for assimila-
ting the currency of the island to that of the Dominion of

THE QUESTION OF UNION. 171

Canada, by the introduction of a dcciinal system of keeping
the public accounts. The act did not distJirb the existing
value of the current coins, but simply declared what their
value should be in relation to the new system.

The question of a union of the North American Provinces
Twas not prominently before the people of Prince Edward
Island until 1864. Ten years previously, the subject had
been discussed in the parliament of Nova Scotia by the
parties of which Howe and Johnston were the leaders,
when the latter gentleman moved a resolution favorable to
union. In 1857, two members of the government of Nova
Scotia had an interview with Mr. Labouchere, the colonial
secretary, on the subject, when he intimated that, in the
event of concurrence on the part of al'. the provinces, the
home government would be prepared to consider ai y meas-
ure, with a view to the consummation of union, which might
be agreed upon. Mr. Gait, in 1858, when a member of the
Canadian administration, was an advoc'te for the considera-
tion of the question ; and, subsequently, a correspondence
with the home government on the subject was opened by
the Canadian government. But the oificial action which
resulted in the consummation of union was taken la the
assembly of Nova Scotia in 1861, when the provincial
secretary moved that the lieutenant-governor of the province
should be respectfully requested to put himself in comiauni-
cation with the colonial secretary, the governor-general, and
the lieutenant-governors of the other North American Prov-
inces, in order to ascertain the policy of Her Majesty's
government, and the sentiments of the other colonies, with
a view to the consideration of the question. This resolu-
tion w^as unanimously adopted by the assembly, sent to the
colonial office, and subsequently transmitted by the Duke of
Newcastle to the governor-general, and to the lieutenant-

172 HISTORY OF rniNCE EDWARD ISLAND.

governors of the several provinces. On the proceedings of
the assembly, his <jrrace remarked tliat if a union, either
partial or complete, should hereafter bo proposed, with the
concurrence of all the provinces to be united, he was sure
that the matter would be weighed in England by the public,
by parliament, and by Her Majesty's government with no
othrr fei'liiig than an anxiety to discern and to promote any
course which might be most conducive to the prosjierity,
the st'-ength, and the harmony of all the British communities
in North America.

The desire of the home government to see a union of the
North American Provinces consummated, having been thus^
indicated, a discussion of the question took ploce in the
legislature of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince
Edward Island, in the sessions of 1861:, which resulted in
the a})pointment, by these provinces, of delegates, to meet
in Charlottetown. In the assembly of Pi-ince Edward
Island there was considerable opposition to the idea of a
legislative luiion, but the following resolution was passed
by a majority : " That His Excellency the Lieutenant Gov-
ernor be authorised to appoint delegates — not to exceed five
— to confer with delegates who may be appointed by the
government of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, for the
purpose of discussing the expediency of a union of the three
Provinces of Nova Scotia, New BrunsAvick, and Prince
Edward Island imder one government and legislature, the
report of the said delegates to be laid before the legislature
of the colony before any action shall be taken in regard to
the proposed question."

In the year 18G3 the two parties in the Canadian parlia-
ment were so equally balanced, that it was found impossible
to conduct the business of the country with any degree of
efficiency. The leading men of both parties accordingly

CONFEHENTE AT CIIAULOTTETOWN. 173

ngreetl on a reconstruction, resolving with the concnrrenoc
of tlicir supporters to unite, for the purpose of securing u
confederation of all the British North American Prov-
inces. Tiie governor-general addressed a despatch to the
lieutenant-governor of the maritime provinces, asking
Avhether, at the coming conference at Charlottetown, a
deputation from the Canadian Government would be re-
ceived, in order to give the members of it an oppo)-tunity of
expressing their views regarding tlie proposed nuion. An
answer favorable to the proposal was returned. A tleputu-
tion accordingly proceeded to Charlottetown. The wIkjIg of
the delegates met on the tirst of September. Prince Ed\vard
Island being represented by the Ilonorables Cohjnel Gray,
premier ; Edward Palmer, attorney general ; W. II. Pope,
-colonial secretary ; George Coles, ^1. P. P., and A. A. Mac-
donald, M. L. C. The proceedings of the conference were
not reported, but the late ]\[r. Whelan, in his j)ublislied
xicconnt of the proceedings, says " it was well nnderstood
that the proposal to unite the maritime provinces nnder one
government and one legislature was deemed impracticable ;
bnt the opinion of the delegates was unanimous that a union
upon a larger basis might be eftected ; and v\ itli the view of
considering the feasibility of such a union in all its details,
it was proposed by the Canadian ministers to hold a further
conference at Quebec, with the consent of the governments
of the lower provinces, and at such time as might be named
hy the governor-general. This arrangement was agreed to,
and the conference suspended its deliberations."

Before leaving Charlottetown, the delegates were enter-
tained at a sumptuous banquet, by the executive council and
seme of the prominent citizens of Charlottetown. The
entertainment was given in the Provincial Building, on the
evening of the eighth of September. Speeches were delivered

174 IIISTOUY OF PRINCE EDWAKD ISLAND.

by a number of gentlemen, among wliom were LieutenanU
governor Diindas, Hon. John Long^vorth, Hon. T. H. Havi-
laud, and Frederick de St. Croix Brecken, Esq.

From Charlottetown the delegates proceeded to Halifax,,
where they were similarly entertained. Frederictou was
next visited, and in Saint John the festivities of Charlotte-
town and Halifax were repeated. On the tenth of October
the conference at Quebec was oj)ened. Prince Edward
Island being represented by the Honorables Colonel Gray,.
Edward Palmer, W. II. Pope, George Coles, T. II. Ilavi-
land, Edward Whelan, and A. A. Macdonald, which ter-
minated on the twenty-seventh of October. From Quebec tlio.
delegates proceeded to Montreal, where they were hospitably
entertained. At a public banquet given at Montreal, the
Honorable Colonel Gray introduced the Honorable Edward
Whelan, requesting him to respond in behalf of Prince
Edward Island, wlien he delivered a telling and eloquent
speech. We can only spare space for the concluding senten-
ces : " It will be the duty," said the speaker, " of the public
men in each and every province, whose representatives are
now in Canada, to educate the public mind up to their views.
The task may be a tedious, difficult, and protracted one, but
no great measure was ever accomplished, or worth much,,
unless surrounded with difficulties. Deferring reverently to
the public opinion of his own province, he would cheerfully
go anongst his people, and explaining it as well as he could,
he would ask them to support a measure which he believed
would enhance their prosperty. Few, and comparatively
poor, as the people of Prince Edward Island may be now,
its fertile fields and valleys are cap&bla of supporting a
population at least three times greater than it is at present.
It was once designated the garden of the Saint Lawrence ;
and it was a valuable fishing station for Canada during the.

UNION SrEECIi BY T. U. IIAVILAND. 175

occupation of the French, under Montcalm. It still pos-
sesses all the qualities of a garden, and its rivers and bays
still abound with fish. He desired that those great resources
should become as well known now, and in the future, as
they were in by-gone days ; and regarding the a<lvantagcs
■which modern improvements and institutions ofl'ered as
auxiliaries to the natural resources of the colony, he was
satisfied that she could not fail to become very prosperous
and ha})py under the })roposed confederation."

The Honorable T. II. Ilaviland — who now holds the
office of colonial secretary — replied to the toast of our sister
colonies. " lie desired to draw attention to some peculiar
facts connected with the present movement. They might
recollect that this was not the first time that states had met
together to organize a constitution ; for in times gone by the
states of Holland had met to resist the tyranny of the Spanish
Government ; and the old thirteen states of America had
also assembled under the cannon's mouth, and the roar of
artillery ; but the peculiarity of this meeting was, that it was
held iu a time of peace, with the approbation, and he
believed, with the sanction of Her Majesty ; that the colonies
might throw aside their swaddling clothes, to put on them-
selves the garb of manhood, and hand down to posterity the
glorious privileges for which their ancestors contended from
age to age in the old country, and which had been brought
into these new countries under the protecting shadow of the
flag that had braved a thousand years the battle and the
breeze. Although Prince Edward Island had only eighty
thousand inhabitants, principally engaged in agriculture, yet,
small as it was, it did not come as a beggar to the conference
doors. Its revenue was not certainly very great, but there
was yet a surplus of about four thousand pounds sterling to
the credit of the province, over and above the thirty-six

170 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

tljonsjiiid poiimls it spent for the goveniUKMit hint year.
Thus it hud not come as a pauper, but was honestly prepared
to do something — all in its power — to organize, liere in
America, a constitutional mtmarchy, Avhich should he able
to sprea<l those institutions in which there was tiie soul of
liberty."

The delegates proceeded afterwards to Ottawa and To-
ronto, where similar festive gatherings took jdacc. But
business was not neglected, as api)ears from the report sub-
aecpiently published, which embodied the conclusions at
which the delegates had arrived as the basis of the proposed
confederation.

The report sets out with the declaration that the best
interests and present and future prosperity of British North
America woidd be promoted by a federal union, under the
Crown of Great Britain, provided such unioPt could be

. eliocted on princii)les just to the several provinces. In the
federation of the British North American provinces, the

, system of government best ada})ted under existing circum-

. stances to protect the diversified interests of the several
provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony, and permanency
in the working of the union, would be a general government
clKir"red with matters of common interest to the whole coun-
try, and local governments for each of the Cauadas, and for
the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince
Edward Island, charged with the control of local matters in
tlicir respective sections, — provision being made for the
admission into the union, on equitable terms, of Newfound-
land, tlie North West Territory, British Columbia, and
Vancouver. In framing a constitution for the general gov-
ernment, the conference, with a view to the perpetuation of
the connection with the mother country, and to the promo-

;, tion of the best interests of the people of these provinces,

THE QUESTION OF CONFEDERATION. 177

desired to follow the model of the Britis>li constitution, so
far as circumstances would ])ermit.

The proceedings of the conference were authenticated by
the signatures of the (ielegates, and submitted by each delega-
tion to its own government, and the chairman was authorised
to submit a copy to the governor-general, for transmission to
the secretary of stnte for the colonies. The governor-gen-
eral (Lord Mon^ik) lost no time in transmitting the resolu-
tions adopted at Quebec to tlic imperial government, which
were hailed with satisfaction by the government and press
of Great Britain.

The Canadian legislature met in February, 1865, when
the report of the convention was discussed in both branches
of the legislature, and a resolution submitted to them, re-
spectively, to the effect that an address should be presented
to Iler Majesty, praying that she might be pleased to cause
a measure to be submitted to the imperial parliament for the
purpose of uniting the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island in
one government, with provisions based on the resolutions
passed at Quebec. After protracted discussion, the resolu-
tions were passed by large majorities. The scheme did not
meet with the same degree of favor in New Brunswick ; for
an election having taken placa before the question was dis-
cussed in the house, a large majority was returned opposed
to confederation.

In Prince Edward Island the scheme of confederation was
not received wiih any degree of favor by the people gener-
ally. Indeed, popular hostility to union found expression
not unfrequently at public meetings. Early in February,
1865, a large meeting was held in Temperance Hall, at
which the Honorabie W. H. P(.pe, the colonial secretary, —
who WP.3 always a decided unionist, — spoke effectively for

178 HISTORY OF PRINX'E EDWARD ISLAND.

an hour in its favor ; but he was encgetically opposed by-
Mr. David Laird and the Honorable* Ar. Coles, who were
regarled as two of the most able and prominent opponents of
confederation. On the tenth of February, two large meetings
were convened simultaneously. At one of these the Honor-
able Thomas H. Haviland delivered a carefully prepared
opening address of some hours' duration, in which he earnestly
advocated union, of which he had always been a consistent
supporter. He was followed by the Honorable Mr. Coles, Mr.
Archibald McNeill, the Honorable George Beer, the Honor-
able D. Davies, and the Honorable Frederick Brecken, —
the speeches of the two latter gentlemca being specially
directed to an exposition of the deficiencies of the Quebec
scheme as bearing on the interests of the island.* The
other meeting was, at the outset, addressed by the Honor-
able Edward Palnjer, who, according to the opinion of the
anti-confederates, proved conclusively that confederation
could not result in permanent benefit to Prince Edward
Island. He was followed in stirring addresses by the Hon-
orable Kenneth Henderson, the Honorable Joseph Hensley,
and the Honorable J. Longworth. At this meeting the
following resolution was proposed by Mr. Charles Palmer,
and unanimously adopted : " That in the opinion of this
meeting, the terms of union contained in the report of the
Quebec conference — especially those laid down in the clauses
relating to representation and finance — are not such as would
be either liberal or just to Prince Edward Island, and that
it is highly inexpedient that said report be adopted by our
legislature."

The assembly was convened on the twenty-eighth of Feb-
ruary, 1865, and on the twenty-fourth of March the colonial

* The Honorable Mr. Brecken and the Honorable Mr. Davies were favor-
able to nnion, on what they conceived equitable principles, but opposed to
what was termed the Quebec Schenae.

THE QUESTION OF CONFEDERATION. 179

secretary (the Honorable W. 11. Pope) moved a scries of
resolutionsj approving of the terms proposed at the conference
held at Quebec. An amendment in opposition to tlieir adop-
tion was submitted by the Honorable James C. Pope, and on
a vote being taken, only five members voted for confedera-
tion, while twent-y-three were antagonistic to its consumma-
tion.

During the session of the following year (186G) the
question was again introduced to the house by a message
of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, transmitting a
despatch from Mr. Cardvvell, the imperial colonial secretary,
on the subject of a federation of the British North American
Provinces, when a resolution, more hostile to union than the
amendment already specified, was, on the motion of the
Honorable J. C. Pope, submitted to the house. It was
moved, " That, even if a union of the continental provinces
of British North America should have the etfect of strength-
ening and binding more closely together those provinces, or
advancing their material interests, this house cannot admit
that a federal union of the North American Provinces and
colonies, which would include Prince Edward Island, could
ever be accomplished on terms that would prove advantage-
ous to the interests and well-being of the people of this
island, separated as it is, and must ever remain, from the
neighboring provinces, by an immovable barrier of ice, for
many months in the year ; and this house deems it to be its
sacred and imperative duty to declare and record its con-
viction, as it now does, that any federal union of the North
American colonies that would embrace this island would
be as hostile to the feelings and wishes, as it would be
opposed to the best and most vital interests of its people.'*
The Honorable James Duncan seconded this resolution.
An amendment was proposed by the Honorable Edward

180 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Whelan, seconded by the solicitor general (the Honorable
T. H. Havilaud, now a senator of the Dominion), to the
eflFect that there should be no vote passed by the legislature
as to the confederation of the provinces until the people
should be first afforded an opportunity of pronouncing their
judgment on the question at a general election. Mr. Pope's
motion was carried by twenty- one votes to seven for the
amendment. An address to Her Majesty the Queen, based
on the action of the assembly, was subsequently adopted by
the assembly and forwarded for presentation at the foot of
the throne.

In the autumn of 1866, Mr. J. C. Pope went to England,
and an informal offer was made through him by the delegates
from the other provinces, then in London settling the terms
of confederation, to grant the island eight hundred thousand
dollars, as indemnity for the loss of territorial revenue, and
for the purchase of the proprietors* estates, on condition of
the island entering the confederation. But the people were
not at this time in a temper to entertain the proposition for
a moment. ^ '

In the autumn of 1869, the island was visited by Sir John
Young, the governor-general of British North America. He
was accompanied by several of his ministers, who discussed
informally, with members of the government, the subject of
a union of the island with the Dominion of Canada. On the
eighteenth of December, 1869, the governor-general trans-
mitted to Sir Robert Hodgson, the administrator of the
government of Prince Edward Island, a minute of the privy
council of Canada, relating to the question of a political
union of the island with the Dominion. That minute was
based on a memorandum dated the eleventh of December,
1869, from Sir George Cartier und Messrs. Tilley and
Kenny, who took part in the informal discussion just alluded

THE QUESTION OF CONFEDERATION.

to, and who now submitted, for the approval of their col-
leagues in the Dominion ministry, the conditions on which
they thought the island should be admitted to the union.
These conditions received the formal sanction of the Domin-
ion government, and were duly forwarded to Sir Robert
Hodgson, who submitted them to a committee of the execu-
tive council, who, on the seventh of January, 1870, adopted
the following minute : " The committee having under con-
sideration the report of a committee of the privy council of
Canada, wherein certain proposals for a union of Prince
Edward Island with the Dominion are set foith, resolve,
that inasmuch as said terms do not comprise a full and
immediate settlement of the land tenures and indemnity
from the imperial government for loss of territorial revenues,
the committee cannot recommend said terms to the consider-
ation of their constituents and the public." This minute
was signed by the Honorable R. P. Haythorne, the leader
of the government (now a senator of the Dominion) , and his
colleagues. The government subsequently presented a more
detailed statement of their objections to the basis of union.
These documents were forwarded to Earl Granville, the colo-
nial secretary ; and, on the seventh of March, 1870, address-
ing his honor the administrator, he said : " It appears to me
that the government of Prince Edward Island will not act
wisely if they allow themselves to be diverted from the
practical consideration of their own real interests, for the
sake of keeping alive a claim against the imperial govern-
ment which, it is quite certain, will never be acknowledged."
The subject of union came again prominently before the
assembly in the session of 1870, on taking into consideration
the messages of his honor the administrator of the govern-
ment, transmitting various despatches and papers. The
Honorable Mr. Kelly reported that the committee recom-

182 HISTORY UF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

mended that the house shouhl adopt a resohition to the effect
that the people's representatives felt it to be their duty to
oppose a union with the Dominion of Canada, and to express
their opinion tliat the people of the island, while loyal ia
their attachment to the Crown and government of Great
Britain, were, nevertlicless, almost unanimously opposed to
any change in the constitution of the colony, — which resolu-
tion was carried by nineteen to four votes.

The next movement of importance in reference to the
question of union was taken by the government, of which
the Honorable Mr. ITaythorne was the leader, on the
second of January, 1873, when the executive council
adopted an important minute containing new propositions,
with a view to the union of the island with the Dominion
of Canada. It was stated in the minute, that if Canada
would accord liberal terms of union, the government of
Prince Edward Island would be prepared to advise an
immediate dissolution of the house, in order to give the
people an opportunity of deciding whether they would go
into confederation, or submit to the taxation required for
railway purposes. The document was forwarded to the gov-
ernor-general and submitted to the privy council of the
Dominion, Avho suggested that a deputation should be sent
to Ottawa by the government of the island, for the purpose
of holding a conference on the subject of the proposed union.
The Honorable Mr. Haythorne and the Honorable David
Laird were accordingly appointed as delegates, representing
the interests of the island ; but they were not authorised to
pledge either the government or the colony to any proposi-
tion that might be made by the Dominion of Canada. The
delegation had several interviews with a sub-committee of
the council, when the various questions connected .vith the
important subject were fully discussed ; and a minute of the

THE QUESTION OF CONFEDERATION. 183

terms and coiulitious mutiially jvgrecd to was finally drawn up.
On the twelfth of March the governor-general sent a tele-
graphic despatch, evidently for the purpose of confirming the
report of Messrs. Haythorue and Laird, intimating his minis-
ters' opinion, — in which he expressed his own concurrence, —
that " uo additional concession would have any chance of
being accepted by the parliament of Canada."

On the seventh of March the lieutenant-governor dissolved
the house of assembly ; and on the twenty-seventh of April
the new house met, when the lieutenant-governor, in his
opening speech, said that papers relative to the proposed
union of the island with Jie Dominion of Canada would be
laid before the house. Having dissolved the house in order
that this important question might be submitted to the
people at the polls, he now invited the representatives of the
people to bestow on the question their care< '^ consideration,
expressing the earnest hope of the imperial government, that
the island would not lose this opportunity of union with her
sister provinces.

On the twenty-eighth of April the question was vigorously
discussed by Mr. J. C. Pope and Mr. Laird ; and on the second
day of May, Mr. A. C. McDonald reported, that the com-
mittee had come to a resolution to the eflfect that the terms
and conditions proposed did not secure to the island a sum
sufiicient to defraf the indispensable requirements of its local
government ; that the strong objections hitherto entertained
by the people of the island to confederation having been
much modified, and the present house of assembly, feeling
anxious to meet the desire of the imperial government to
unite under one government all the British possessions ia
America, was willi[ig to merge the interests ' 3 island

with those of the Dominion on terms just and r lable, —
such as would not involve the people in direct loo. taxation

184 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

for objects for which the ordinary revenue had hitherto
enabled them to provide. The resolution further proposed
to authorise the lieutenant-governor to appoint delegates to
proceed to Ottawa to confer with the government of the
Dominion on the subject.

To this resolution, the Honorable David Laird moved an
amendment, which was seconded by the Honorable B. Davies,
to the effect that the house should appoint a committee of seven
to prepare an address to the Queen, praying Her Majesty in
council to pass an order in council, in conformity with the
one hundred and forty-sixth' section of the British North
America Act, uniting Prince Edward Island with the
Dominion of Canada, on the terms and conditions approved
of in the minute of the privy council of Canada, on the tenth
of March, 1873. The question having been put, the origi-
nal resolution was carried by sixteen to ten votes.

Messrs. James C. Pope, T. H. Haviland, and George W.
Howlati having been appointed delegates by the lieutenant-
governor, proceeded to Ottawa for the purpose of conferring
with the Dominion governmcMt on the subject of the proposed
union. On the seventh of May they had an interview with
the governor-general on the subject of their mission, and
immediately afterwards they attended a formal meeting of
the privy council. A committee of the council, consisting of
Sir John A. McDonald the Honorables Messieurs Tilley,
Tupper, and Langevin were then appointed to confer with
the delegates, who had dra^vn up a memorandum which
they submitted to the committee. In that memorandum the
delegates proposed to accept, as the basis of union, the
offer made m 1869 by the Dominion government, namely, two
hundred and forty-one thousand dollars a year for revenue,
provided the Dominion government would assume the
cost of the railway, a,: well as that of the proposed branch

THE QUESTION OP CONFEDERATION. ' 185

to Port Hill. These terms were cot acceptable to the com-
mittee of the privy council. A compromise was, however,
ultimately etTected, and on the fifteenth of May a memoran-
dum, embodying terms mutually approved, was signed by
the committee and the delegates.

The delegates returned immediately to Charlottetowu, and
the terms and conditions of the proposed union, which were
substantially those procured b;y Messrs. Haythorne and Laird,
as agreed to at Ottawa, were submitted to the house of assem-
bly, then in session. Tiie principal terms and conditions were
the following : that the island should, on entering tlie union,
be entitled to incur a debt equal to fifty dollars a head of its
population, as shown by the census returns of 1871 ; that is
to say, four millions seven hundred and one thousand and
fifty dollars ; that the island, not having incurred debts equal
to the sum just mentioned, should be entitled to receive, by
half-yearly payments in advance, from the general govern-
ment, interest at the rate of five per cent, per annum on the
difference, from time to time, between the actual amount of
its indebtedness and the amount of indebtedness authorised ;
that, as the government of Prince Edward Island held no
lands from the Crown, and consequently enjoyed no revenue
from that source for the construction and maintenance of
public works, the Dominion government should pay, by
half-yearly instalments, in advance, to the government of
Prince Edward Island, forty-five thousand dollars yearly,
less five per cent, upon any sum not exceeding eight hundred
thousand dollars, which the Dominion government might
advance to the Prince Edward Island government for the
purchase of land now held by the large proprietors ; that, in
consideration of the transfer to the parliament of Canada of
the powers of taxation, the following sums should be paid
yearly by Canada to Prince Edward Island, for the support

18G IIISTOUY OF rUINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

•

of the govcniiTKMit ai»(l legislature : that la to say, thirty
thousand dollars, and an annual grant cfpial to eighty cents
per head of its population, as sliown by the census returns of
1871, — namely, ninety-four thousaml and twenty-one, — both
by half-yearly payments in advance, — such grant of eighty
cents per h<'ad to be augmented in proportion to such in-
crease of population of the island as might bt shown by each
decennial census, until the population amounted to four hun-
dred thousand, at which rate such grant shoild thereafter
remain, — it being understood that the next census should be
taken in the year 1881. The Dominion likewi-^e assumed
all the cluvrges for the following services : the salary of the
lieutenant-governor, the salaries of the judges of the superior
CO;. ris and of the district or county courts, the dirges in
respect to li.o department of customs, the postal department,
the protection of the fisheries, the provision for the r.iilitia,
the lighthouses, shipwrecked crews, quarantine, and marine
hospitals, the geological survey, and the penitentiary. The
Dominion government also assumed the railway, which was
•then under contract. The main resolutions, on the motion
of Mr. J. C. Pope, seconded by Mr. David Laird, were carried
by twenty-seven votes to two. The house of assembly then
'Unanimously agreed to an address to Her Majesty the
■Queen, praying that Her Majesty would be graciously
pleased to unite Prince Edward Island with the Dominion
of Canada on the terms and conditions contained in the
said address. The legislative action necessary to consum-
mate the union of Prince Edward Island with the Dominion
of Canada being thus completed, its political destiny was
united to that of the already confederated provinces on the
£rst of July, 1873.

It may seem strange, to one unacquainted with the facts,
Ihat so great a change in public sentiment in regard to union

THE QUESTION OF COXIEDKRATION. 187

slioukl biivo boftu cflTecttMl in so brief a jjorlixl. The solution
of the probk'in is to be found niuinly in the circunistancc,
tluit the inurcjuitile connnnnity was afraid of a monetary
crisis, consiMiuent on the liabilities of the island in connec-
tion with the railway, and that the only satisfactory way of
getting out of the difliculty appeared to be the union of the
island, on liberal terms, with the Dominion of Canada.
Fidelity to historical accuracy constrains us to say that the
final settlement of the terms was in no small measure attrib-
utable to the able manner in which Messrs. Ilaythorne and
Laird acquitted themselves when delegates at Ottawa ; and
it must further be stated, to the credit of these gentlemen,
that they rose, Avhen occasion refpured, a'jove party preju-
dice, and communicated their desire to the Dominion gov-
ernment that further concessions should, if possible, be
granted to the new delegates, so that the union might be
effected without delay. But it must not, at the same time,
be forgotten that the government of which Mr. J. C. Pope
was the leader obtained better terms than those conceded to
the previous delegation, and that to them belongs the merit,
in a great measure, of bringing the question to a final
solution.

<^^'

CHAPTER XI.

Biographical Sketches i—Blf^hop McEachern— Rcv.Donahl McDonald— Rev.
Dr. Kier — Hon. T. II. Ilaviland— Hon. E. Whelun — Hon. James Yeo —
Hon. Georgu Coles— James D. Haszard.

?1;;^ MONG the early .settlers of the ishiud, prominent alike
u\ because of his aptitude for his position and the dignity
with which he filled it, is the venerable figure of
Bishop McEachern. While yet in early boyhood, about
the year 1775, he was sent by the Scottish Bishop, Jolni
McDonald, to the Scotch Ecclesiastical College at Valladolid,.
in Spain. Having finished his studies there, he was ordained
priest, and returned to Scotland, where he worked as a mis-
sionary for five years, under the Right Reverend Bishop
Alexander McDonald. He arrived on the island either in
August or September of 1790, and took up his residence at
Savage Harbor. The church at Scotchfort was then the only
catholic church on the island, and missionary duties were dis-
charged at the residences of individuals in different parts of
the colony. He acted as road commis^ioner, and laid out all
the roads in the eastern portion of King's County. His
assistant in this duty was a Presbyterian clergyman, — the
Reverend William Douglas. He was a man of such a
stamp as sometimes we find, under severe difficulties, execu-
ting work so arduous that it seems only the language of
truth to call his deeds heroic. He was, in his day, the only
catholic priest on the island. His flock was widely scat-
tered. Roads were few, and travelling, always difficidt,
was often attended with danger. But neither difficulty nor
danger could daunt the zeal of the missionary. Now in his

SKETCHES OF PROMINENT ISLANDERS. 189

wngon, now in hU boat or sleigh, he visited the remotest
settlements. Everyuhore he was welcomed, both by catholic
and protcstant. There are yet livin;; protectants wh.) re-
ceived the waters i!* baptism trom the hands of the good
bishop. Among his catholic flock he was at once pastor
and judge. lie decided differences, he settled disputes, and
his verdict was, in almost every case, gracefully acquiesced
in. The kindness of his nature and his shrewd forethought
fitted him admirably for the duties of a missionary among
early settlers, struggling with the countless difficulties of a
rigid climate and a new country. One ilttle trait recorded
of him gives us a glimpse of the thoughtful beneficence of
his character. He was in the habit of hanging up buckets
near tiie springs by the roadside, in order to enable travellers
to water their horses on their journeys. The same benevo-
lence permeated all his actions, and his hospitality was
unbounded. In every settlement he had a fixed place,
where he resided until he had performed his priestly duties
among his flock. These duties must at one time have been
very onerous, for he was bishop not only of Prince Edward
Island, but also of New Brunswick. He was the second
English-speaking catholic priest who came to the island.

Few names call up warmer feelings of respect than that
of Bishop McEachern. Full of years and wearied out with
labor, he died at his residence, near Saint Andrews. He
was laid in the old chapel ; but, a few years ago, the
remains were removed to the new church, where they rest
within the sanctuary.

The Reverend Donald McDonald died in 1867. He was
born in Perthshire, Scotland, on the first of January, 1783 ;
was educated at the University of Saint Andrews ; and was
ordained a minister of the Church of Scotland in 1816. He
labored as a missionary in the Highlands until 1824, when

190 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

he emigrated to Cape Breton. Here he preached two years^
In 1826 he came to the island, and commenced his hibors in
the spirit of the trne evangelist. To him, the toil of travel-
ling over the country and ministering to the destitute vvaa
the highest pleasure. Multitudes flocked to hear him preach.
In barns, dwelling-houses, schoolbouses, and in the open air
he proclaimed his commission to eager hundreds. Here-
and there he organized his bands of workers and ordained
elders. As years rolled on, his interest in his great work
increased, and greai success crowned his efforts. Spacious
and elegant churches began to take the place of rude shan-.
ties. His people grew in numbers, in wealth, in respectabili-
ty, and in love for their minister. To have him as a guest,,
or to drive him from one of his stations to another, was the
highest hontir.

His eloquence was of a high order. Before commencing-
his sermon he generally gave an introductory address, in
which he would refer to the national, political, and religious
questions of the day, and comment freely on them. His
sermons were masterpieces of logical eloquence. He would
begin in a rather low conversational tone ; but, as he pro-
ceeded, his voice would become stronger. Then the whole
man would preach, — tongue, countenance, eyes, feet, hands,
body, — all would grow eloquent ! The audience would un^
consciously become magnetized, convicted, and swayed at
the speaker's will. Some would cry aloud, some would fall
prostrate in terror, while others w^ould clap their hands, or
drop down as if dead. Seldom has such pulpit power been
witnessed since the preaching of "Wesley, Whitfield, and
Edward Irving.

But it must not be supposed that the abundance of Mr^
McDonald's labors as a preacher prevented him from giving
attention to study. Far from it. His intellect was toa

SKETCHES OF PROMINENT ISLANDERS. 101

strong and too vigorous to rest. His pen was ever busy.
He was profoundly read in philosophy. He was deeply
versed in ancient and ecclesiastical history. He excelled in
Biblical exegesis. No superficial thinker was he. The
pen of no one but a master could produce his treatises
on "The Millennium," "Baptism," and "The Plan of
Salvation." He greatly admired the Hebrew and Greek
languages. The Psalms of David, Isaiah's Prophecies,
and Solomon's Songs were his delight. He was a graceful
writer of liinglish vers?, an excellent singer, and played
w^ell on the flute. He published several collections of his
poems and hymns. In the later years of his life one of
his hymns was always sung at every service, set to some
wild strain of his native Scotland, such as " The Campbells
are coming," or " The Banks and Braes o' Bonny Doon."

To say that Mr. McDonald was faultless, would be to say
that he Avas more than human. To say that, as a great
moral reformer, he had no enemies, would be to say that he
was a toady and a time-server. He was a brave man. He
had strong self-reliance, and still stronger faith in God. He
attacked vices with giant blows. Woe to the opponent who
crossed his pathway ! He had rare conversational powers.
His spirits were always good. He knew the circumstances
of every family in his widely-scattered flock, and remembered
the names of all the children. He had no certain dwelling-
place, no certain stipend, and bestowec all he got on
works of charity. He w^as rather below medium height,
stout, and powerfully built. He was hale and vigorous-
looking to the last. His dress, appearance, and manners
always bespoke the cultured Christian gentleman. He
was never married.

In 1861 his health began to fail rapidly. It was thought
he would not recover. He wrote epistles to his congrega-

192 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

tions commending them to God. But he rallied, and was
able, with varying strength, to labor six years longer.
More than ever did his ministrations breathe the spirit of
the Great Teacher. He was again brought low. He was
at the house of Mr. McLeod, of Southport. He felt that his
end was near, — that his life-work was over ; and a great
work it was. He had built fourteen churches ; he had
registered the baptism of two thousand two hundred chil-
dren, and had baptized perhaps as many more not registered ;
be had married more people than any living clergyman ; he
had prayed beside thousands of deathbeds ; he had a parish
extending from Bedeque to Murray Harbor, and from Hustico
to Belle Creek ; and he had five thousand followers, more
attached to their great spiritual leader than ever were High-
land clansmen to their chief. But he was as humble as a
child. To God he gstve the glory for all. He retained his
faculties, and was glad to see his old friends at his bedside.
Many came from far and near to take their last farewell and
receive the dying blessing of the venerable patriarch. He
sank gradually, suffering no pain, and on Friday, the twenty-
second of February, in the eighty-fifth year of his age and
the fifty-first of his ministry, he breathed his last.

The place of interment was the IJigg Murray Harbor Road
churchyard, eighteen miles distant from Charlottetown. The
funeral was the largest ever witnessed in the colorty. All
classes united in paying the last tribute of respect to the
honored dead. The cortege numbered over three hundred
and fifty sleighs. As the great procession moved down
through the country, at the roadsides and at the doors and
windows of the houses might be seen old men weeping, and
women and children sobbing as if they had lost a father ;
and in the presence of a vast assemblage, near the church
where his eloquent voice Lad so often melted listening

SKETCH OF DR. KIER. M f ' 193

thousands, and where he had so often celebrr.icd, at the
yearly sacrament, the Saviour's death, the remains of the
Reverend Donald McDonald were laid to rest. A costly
monument marks the spot.* ■ . •

Amongst the first-class representative ministers of the
Presbyterian body in Prince Edward Island, we may safely
place the Reverend Dr. Kier, who was born in the village
of Bucklyvie, in the parish of Kippen, Scotland, in the year
1779. lie was educated at Glasgow College, studied theol-
ogy under ^Professor Bruce, of Whitburn, and was licensed
by the associate or antiburgher Presbytery of Glasgow about
the beginning of the year 1808, and, in the auturrm of that
year, arrived as a missionary on the island, under the
auspices of the General Associate Synod in Scotland. In
1810, Dr. Kier settled in Princetown, having bepn ordained
in June of that year. This Avas the first organized Presby-
terian congregation on the island. The call to Dr. Kier
was subscribed by sixty-four persons, embracing nearly all
the heads of families and male adults of the Presbyterian
population in Princetown Royalty, New London, Bedeque,
and the west side of Richmond Bay ; and when the jubilee
of the venerable doctor was held, in 1858, only fourteen of
the number who signed the call were living. There is not
one of the old Presbyterian congregations on the island,
whether then in connection with the Scottish Establishment,
the Free Church, or the Presbyterian Church of Nova
Scotia, Avhich did not, to some extent, enjoy his missionary
labors, or experience his fostering care in its infancy. In
most of them, Dr. McGregor planted; but he watered,
while others have reaped.

* The author is indebted for this gi-aphic sketch to the kindness of Mr.
John T. Mcllish, M. A., who was personally aequa^lted with Mr. McDouald.

O

194 HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Dr. McCulloch having died in the year 1843, Dr. Kier
was, at the meeting of Synod hehl in the following sum-
mer, chosen liis successor as theological tutor. " We have
sat under men of greater originality of thought," writes one
who knew him well, — '•' men who impressed us more deeply
with a sense of their intellectual power, — but we never
sat under one who produced deeper impressions of moral
goodness, nor one who, in the handling of the great themes
of Ciiristian doctrine, presented them more as great practical
realities."

When the jubilee, to which we have already referred, took
place, the whole country round poured forth a stream of
carriages and horsemen. Tables for tea had been spread
for four hundred and fifty guests, and these were filled four
times, and part of them five times. It may be stated, as
indicative of the estimation in which Dr. Kier was held,
that it was calculated that three thousand persons were then
present to do him well-earned honor. The address delivered
by Dr. Kier on that occasion was as chaste and modest in
expression as it was deeply interesting in matter, and his
hearers little imagined that the venerable speaker, who then
appeared in good health, was destined, in two months and
two days, to rest from his labors. The memory of the just
is blessed.

The Honorable Thomas Heath Haviland, Senior, was
born at Cirencester, in the County of Gloucester, England,
on the thirtieth of April, 1796. More than fifty years
previous to his death, Mr. Haviland came to Charlotte-
town, and entered upon the duties of an office to which
lie had been appointed by the Prince Regent. In the year
1823 — the last year of the administration of lieutenant-
governor Smith — he was appointed a member of His

SKETCH OF HON. T. H. HAVILAND, SENR. 195

Majesty's executive council. The soundness of his judg-
ment, his prudence, moderation, aud courtly manners at
once gave him influence at tlie council board ; and for
upwards of a quarter of a century — from the days of
Colonel Sir John Ready until the stormy times of Sir
Henry Vere Huntley, which immediately preceded the
introduction into the colony of responsible government —
his influence was paramount. In 1824 he was appointed
assistant judge of the supreme court. From 1830 until
1839 he held the office of treasurer, which, in this year, he
resigned for the office of colonial secretary. In 1839 the
legislative council was separated from the executive council,
and, by the Queen, Mr. Ilaviland was appointed its first
president. On the introduction of responsible government,
in 1851, he retired from office, and shortly after, with his
family, visited England. His attachment to the island
induced him to return to it, after a comparatively short
absence. At the time of his death he was Mayor of Char-
lottetown, — having been annually elected to that office from
1857. He was also president of the Bank of Prince
Edward Island. During his long official career he dis-
charged his public duties with ability and dignity.

In private life be was remarkable for his generous hospi-
tality and urbanity, for his kindly disposition and the con-
stancy of his friendship. He was ever ready to listen to
all who sought his counsel or assistance, and very many
were the recipients of both. Time appeared to have laid its
hand gently upon him. He was never known to the world
as an ailing man. His erect figure, firm step, and good
spirits gave promise of a long continuance of life, when a
sudden attack, indicating severe organic derangement, con-
fiied him to his room. After a few months of sufferinff,
which he bore with decorous fortitude, and during which

19G HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

he exhibited the most tlioiightfiil concern for those who were
iu immediate attendance upon him, as well as for the more
intimate of his friends who were absent, he passed away on
the morning of Tuesday, the eighteenth of June, 18G7, at
the age of seventy-two years and two months. " The fine
old English gentleman," said the Islander^ " the fond father,
the wise and prudent counsellor, the useful and honored
citizen lias been laid in the grave, leaving a memory Avhich
will long be cherished and revered iu this the l.iud of his
adoption." . ^t - ' -- ^ ,>..'.. ^^^vv.-

At this time the Honorable Edward Whelan was the
correspondent, in Charlottetown, of the 3Iontreal Gazette.
Though politically opposed to Mr. Havilaud, he alluded, in
a letter to the Gazette^ — which was published on the fifth of
July, 18G7, — to the deceased gentleman in the following
touching terms : " The vacancy in the mayoralty is caused
by the demise of the Honorable T. H. Haviland. He was
the representative man of the old conservative party. With-
out brilliant talents, his jndgnient was of the highest order ;
he filled every situation in the colony to which a colonist
could aspire, short of the gubernatorial chair ; his manners
to Iriend and opponent were always the essence of dignity,
urbanity, and courtesy ; and, passing through much of the
contention of political life, leaving his impress on our small
society, by his many useful labors, he was singularly fortu-
nate, by his kindly nature, in disarming all opponents of the
shadow of rancorous hostility."

The Honorable Edward Whelan died at his residence, in
Charlottetown, on the tenth of December, 1867, at the com-
paratively early age of forty-three. He was born in County-
Mayo, Ireland, in 182 i, and received the rudiments of edu-
cation in his native tow^n. At an early age he emigrated to

SKETCH OF HON. E. WHELAX. 107

Halifax, Nova Srotia, avIuto, shortly after his arrival, he
entered tlie printing-otTiee of the Iloiiorahle Joseph Howe,
then a newspaper puhlislicr in that city. Hi-re he irave such
proofs of that jrreat facility for newspaper writing Avhich
distingnished him in after life tli«at he was oeeasionally
employed to write editorial articles for Mr. Howe's news-
paper during the absence or illness of tlie latter. At the
age of eighteen he came to Prince Edwanl Island, which
■Nvas tlien ruled by parties who could scarcely be said to be
amenable to public opinion. INIr. Whelan, ranging himself
on the side of the people, tlirew the wciglit of his influence
as a journalist into the struggle for popular rights.

In 1851, Mr. Whelan married Miss Mary Major Hughes,
daughter of Mr. George A. Hughes, of Her Majesty's
Commissariat Department at Halifax, by whom he had
two daughters — who died some time previous to his own
decease — and one son, — an excellent youth, who perished
by a boat accident in Charlottctown harbor, on Dominion
Day, in the current year. • i- '

Apart from Mr. Whelan's oratorical power, — in which
he excelled, — the great lever of public opinion, so powerful
throughout the British dominions, obeyed his masterly liand
as often as any fair occasion arose to resort to its agency.
His political opponents will .acknowledge that he never
abused the power of the press, and that he knew how to
combine a singularly consistent political career with concil-
iatory manners. Edward Whelan's nature revolted from
any mean or vindictive action. He neither bullied his
opponents nor begged favors ; he relied upon the strong
innate love of justice of every intelligent mind ; and,
although he died comparatively young, he lived long enough
to see, to a large extent, the results of his labors in the
extension of civil liberty.

198 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

' ^fr. Whelan was a Roman catholic. The writer of a
sketch of liis life which appeared in tlie Examiner, .says
that " his words and tliouglits, in the hour of death, were
tliose of a Christian jrentlemau." The author of tliis work
had the ph'asnre, in the autumn of 1867, of havin«r an inter-
view of several hours' duration witli the deceased j^entlenian,
diu'injjj which topics connected with general literature were
freely discussed, and he parted with him retaining a high
opinion of his literary ability, as well as of the extent of his
knowledge.

At Port Hill, on the twenty-fifth of August, 18C8, died
the Honorable James Yeo, in the eightieth year of his age.
•'i'he deceased gentleman was a native of Devonshire, Eng-
l.;,iid, and was born in the year 1788. lie emigrated to
Prince Edward Island about fifty years previous to his death.
He, consequently, was then about thirty years of age. On
his arrival, lie obtained a situation in connection with the
firm of Chanter & Company, who were doing business in
shipbuilding at Port Hill. Being a young man of good
habits and business talent, he secured the confidence of his
employers. He had charge of the company's books, and
astonij«hed everybody by liis remarkable powers in mental
arithmetic. The Messrs. Chanter having resolved to remove
to England, assigned their outstanding debts to Mr. Yeo, as
remuneration for what they owed him. With the small
capital thus placed at his command, as the fruit of honest
industry, he commenced trading and shipbuilding, which he
prosecuted with remarkable success. P^irmness, punctuality,
and honesty were the characteristics of his business life.

Mr. Yeo entered public life in the year 1839, and from
that period till his death lost but one election. He was no
orator, but stated his views on the questions before the house
of assembly in a few terse Saxon terms, — always strictly to

SKETCH OF HON. GE0UGI3 COLES. 199

the point. As a legislator, he Avas -worth a dozen frotliy
orator.'^. He died deei)ly regretted by a wide circle of
frieuds.

For the following brief sketch of the Honorable (ieorge
Coles, we are indebted to an admirable biography of the
deceased gentleman from the pen of Mr. Henry Lawson, and
regret that the space at onr disposal does not admit of tho
insertion of the entire production, Avhich is highly creditable
to the literary ability of the writer : The Honorable George
Coles was born in Prince Edward Island on the twentieth
of September, 1810. He was the eldest son of James and
Sarah Coles. In his boyhood, Mr. Coles profited by such
educational advantages as the place of Ids birth atlbrded.
In 1829, when he was just entering manhood, he Avent to
England, where he remained four years. During his stay
there he married INliss Mercy Maine, on tlie fourteenth of
August, 1833, at East Penard Church. Somerset. Sliortly
after his marriage, Mr. Coles returned to the island, and
commenced the business of brewer and distiller. A man of
his active mind and wide sympathies could not remain long
in the obscurity of private life. His influence soon began to
be felt and his ability recognized. In the summer of 1842,
he was elected a representative of the first district of Queen's
County in the house of assembly. Seldom has any man
entered public life under greater disadvantages. He was
comparatively a poor man ; his education was limited ; and,
at a time when family influence appeared to be absolutely
necessary to advancement in public life, he had no powerful
connections. So prominent, however, and so powerful did'
Le become, that it was deemed expedient to appoint him a
member of the government. He soon resigned his seat at
the council board, and we find him, in 1848, on the opposi-

200 HISTORY OF rUINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

tion benches, a strcmioiLs lulvocalc fur the introduction of
resiM)nsil)lc government. •, ~

In 1818 Mr. Coles paid a vir^It to the United States.
When tliere, he became <on\inced of the p'eat importance of
reciprocity to the people of the island. In Boston and other
cities of the jjreat republic lie met many island men who
•were stru'iglinif with the dilliculties incident to the want of
education, and it is said that he theii and there determined
to free his countrymen from the disability of ignorance, by
establishing a system of free schools on the island. He
marked the working of the machinery of popular education
in the States, and, as soon as he returned home, set about
framing the island education law. • ;

In those movements which were necessary to secure re-
sponsible government, Mr. Coles was ♦he leading spirit.
His opponents were men of position, of talent, and of educa-
tion, who had been until then all-powerful in the colony.
He had to contend with strong social prejiulices, which were
even more ditficult to overcome than his political adver-
saries ; and he was under the necessity of organizing a
party out of materials by no means the most promising.
Without detracting from the merit of his coadjutors, he, to
a greater degree than any of them, possessed the rare com-
bination of qualities necessary to rouse a submissive people
to resistance, and to infuse spirit and confidence into men
who had been discouraged by a long series of defeats.
When in power he introduced the franchise law, the land
purchase act, and other beneficial measures with which his
name is destined to continue identified.

In 1867, a melancholy change was observed in the veteran
statesman. His vigorous mind, it was but too apparent,
was giving way. In 1866 there had been a great fire in
Charlottetown, and owners of property were kept in a state

gKETCn OF J. D. IIASZAIM). 201

of anxiety })y the 8Ur*|)i<'ioii that a band of incendiaries were
ot work in tl'.c city. Tlic exertions made bv Mr. Coles to
save the |tro|)erty of lii.s fellow-cili/ens, and tlie state of
alarm in which he was kept, did irn'paral>!e injnry to a
constitution already ni.dermined bv anluous mental labor.
His mental condition necessitated his retirement from public
life in Au'rust, 18G8. He died on the morning of the
tv.'enty-first of August, 1875. His funeral was attended
by the Lieuteiuuit-governor, Sir Robert Hodgson, — the pall
being borne bv the Honorable T. H. Ilavilund, the Honor-
able J. C. Pope, AVilliam Cundall, Es(iuire, the Honorable
R. P. Haythorne, the Honorable Judge Young, and the
Honorable Benjamin Davies. His body lies in the grave-
yard of Saint Peter's Church.

Ja3ies Douglas IIaszabd was born in Charlottetown in
the year 1797. He was one of the descendants of a spirited
loyalist, who proved his attachment to the monarchical form
of government by refusing to take his property, which had
been confiscated, on the condition that he should become an
American. In the year 1823 Mr. Haszard began business
by publishing the Register^ and successively the lioyal
Gazette^ and HaszarcVs Gazette^ until the year 1858. Pre-
vious to the publication of the Eetjister^ a total issue of fifty
papers sufficed for the colony. Mr. Haszard was ever ready
to do good work in connection with industrial and benevolent
societies. He was the first to start a cloth-dressing mill in
the colony ; and, as secretary and treasurer of the Royal
Agricultural Society, he introduced improvements in farm-
ing implements and machinery. During the famine of 1837
he relieved many destitute families. He died in August,'
1875, highly esteemed and deeply regretted.

CHAPTER XII.

Commerrial Statistics— Imports — Kxports— lie venue— -(Joverinnont rolicy —
Fishc'iico— Education— .Manufactures — C'liarlottetown— Census of 17!W.

E shall now j>rcscnt a few facts rcppectjn;]^ the com-
Ajr miTce and other promiucnt iiitere.sts of the island.
X^i^" Throuj^h the courtcny of the ellicient collector of
customs, — INIr. Donald Curric, — a gentleman whose polite
attention and hospitality to strangers visiting the island
deserve a permanent record, — we have been favored with
important returns. As an illustration of the wonderful
progress made in the development of the agricidtnral
resources of the island, we may state that while the
quantity of oats exported in 18G2 was only 943,109
bushels, it amounted, in 1872, to 1,558,322 bushels!

The following is the value in dollars of the imports and
exports of the island from 1870 to 1874, inclusive. The
returns represent a rate of progress to which, perhaps, no
parallel can be produced in the British Empire :

YEAU.

IM POUTS.

EXPORTS.

1870

1871

18/2 *". . . . . .

1873-4

1874-5

$1,928,662
2,336.800
2,569.878
1.908,522
1.960,997

$2,154,003
1.625.635
1,894,173
1,908,461
1,940,901*

* The island having entered the confederation with the Dominion on the
first July, 1873, Canadian manufactured goods since then have not come
under the head of "imports," which explains the apparent decrease. The
same rcmai-k applies to exports, because all island products sent to Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, Magdalen Islands, and Canada, which were for-
merly ' exports," are not so reckoned now. In the value of exports is
included the price of the tonnage sold or transferred to other parts.

COMMKUCIAL STATISTICS. 203

The islainl revenue was formerly derived from a«I vnJoypni
and s|)i"'ilic import duties, land assessments, sales of puMic
and Crown lands. Since eonfederation it comes from com-
pensatory subsidies, ami the two last named sourci's. Tiio
revenue of 1800, in sterlinir curreticv, was £28,742, and tho
expenditure X-IKUMJ ; in 18(1') the revenue was i,'-!'),.'^ GO, and
tlie expcndittu-e £18,3r*0 ; in 1870 the revenue was £f>2,2r{(),
and tho expenditure £70,0(52, — thus the revemie has heeii
inereasin;; from 1800 to 1870 at the averajre rate of
£3,400. The receipts for the year 1874 were $40:5,013,
and the expen«litnre for the same year was $43'), 207.
The reason why in this latter year the expenditure ex-
ceeds the revenue is to be found in the fact of the lar;:;e
amount pai«l as compensation for land api)ropriated for rail-
way purposes. It is ri^ht, also, the statement sliould
go forth that the expenditure, wliieh was so much in
excess of the revemie in previous years, has been owinj? to
the judicious purchase, by successive governments of the
island, of freehold estates. Indeed, from 1854 to 1870 tho
government bought 445,131 acres of land, at a cost, in ster-
ling money, of £98,435, of which 345,475 acres have been
resold up to the year 1870. The money thus expended in the
purchase of land is now in process of indirectly yielding a
profitable return to the island ; so that for contracting tem-
porary debt, successive governments deserve credit inst*"; .1 of
condemnation. They have made bold and successful efforts
to shield the people from the misery and ruin entailed by
the reckless disposal of the land by the Crown, and from
the gross injustice of successive home govenmients in not
making full and honorable compensation for the evil con-
sequences of their action.

Mr. John Ings has placed at the temporary disposal of
the writer a most interesting little manuscript book contain-

204

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ing extracts from the survey of Captain Hollaiul, in 1765,
and exhibiting penmanship and neatness of arrangement of
the first order. At this period the number of acres cleared
in the tliree counties was 11,235; houses, 391 ; churches,
2; mills, 11.

The number of acres of arable land held by all families
in 1861 was 368,127. The number held in 1871 was
445,103, — the increase in ten years being 76,976 acres!

Prince Edward Island is the best fi!?liing-station within
the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. But this important depart-
ment of industry has not been cultivated to anything like
the extent it ought, — being mainly carried on with United
States capital. The following table from the census of
1870 shows that there had been, from 1860 until 1870,
little, if any, progress : —

1860.

1870.

Fishijia; Establishments.

89

170

Barrels of Mackerel cured, .

7.163

16,047

Barrels of Herrings or Alewives,

22.410

16,831

Quintals of Codtish or Hake,

39,776

1.5,649

Gallons of Fish Oil

17,609

11,662

Boats owned for fishing,

1,239 ,

1,1S3

Men engaged in fishing,

2.318-

1.G40

In 1870 the total number of schools in the three counties
was 372 ; and of scholars, 15,000. In 1874 the number of
schools was 403; of scholars, 18,233. The salaries of
teachers range from $113.56 to $324.44, — only about
twenty teachers receiving the larger sum, — an allowance
which cannot, by any possibility, command the necessary
talent, and which must be increased if the educational
system is to be put on a proper basis.

The manufactures of the island are such as promise further
development. The importance of diminishing the import of
articles which can be produced as cheaply on the island as

man; FACTURES. 205

elsewhere cannot be overestimated. Merchants who send
money from the island to procure manufactured goods which
they can obtain to equal advantage at home are enemies to
the material progress of the island. Is furniture required?
Men like Messrs. John Newson, Mark Butcher, or John E.
Ferguson can supply it. Are carriages or wagons needed?
Visit Messrs. McKinnon & Eraser's cc^tablishment, or that
of Messrs. J. & R. Scott. Are castings needed? Messrs.
McKinnon & McLean, or Mr. Edward Morrisey can accom-
modate customers. Are window-sashes or similar wood-
work in request? Lee & Gale are prepared to execute
orders. Is tobacco required? Messrs. Hickey & Stewart
and Charles Quirk produce a superior article. Are mowing-
machines needed by our farmers? Mr. Archibald White
makes them in great numbers and of excellent design and
quality. Is well-made cloth required ? It can be supplied in
abundance by the manufacturing establishment of Mr. John
D. Reid, Tryon. The men of whom these and similar firms
consist are practical tradesmen, who are not ashamed to earn
their bread by the sweat of their brow, and who naturally
look to their fellow-islanders for that support to which their
skill and enterprise entitle them.

The railway, under the management of Mr. McKechnie,
prospers beyond the most sanguine expectations of its pro-
moters, rt was opened in the month of April, 1875. "We
give a statement of traffic; earnings from the date of its
opening till the close of August, 1875 ; —

No. Passengers. Amount. Freight. MaiJs.

Amount.

Freight.

$35,655

$14,381

47,847 $35,655 $14,381 $1,737

Express.

$1,391

Total.

$53,164

Mr. Stronach manages the mechanical department effi-
ciently, and the amount paid annually in wages is such as
confers signal benefit on Charlottetown.

206 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

One word- about Charlottctown. If the city were to repre-
sent the intelligence and enterprise of the fair and fertile isle
of which it is the capital, it would be celebrated in the
Dominion for the excellence of its sidewalks, its copious supply
of water, its thorough system of drainage, and the delightful
salubrity of its atmosphere. Since our arrival on the island>
our head has been more than once in danger of coming: into
violeut contact with the dilapidated wooden structure beneatlu
*' I smell you in the dark," said Johnson to Boswell, as they
walked on one of the then unwatered and undrained streets
of Edinburgh, and certainly, the redolence of Charlottetown
can hardly with truth be said to.be elysian. The return
of Mr. William Murphy, the representative of pure water,
to a civic seat, from which he ought never to have been
ejected, augurs that the legislative and municipal steps
already taken to furnish a remedy for evils which can no
longer exist without injury to the health of the inhabitants,
will lead to a speedy consummation devoutly to be wished;
and then Charlottetown will stand, in the estimation of
tourists, in the position which its natural advantages warrant..

In hotel accommodation, the extensive and well-equipped
Island Park Hotel of Mr. Holman, which we visited, is a
credit to the island. The hotel of Mr. John Nevvson, at
Rustico, is also well reported ; and we are given to under-
stand that Miss Rankin, determined that Charlottetown
should no longer lag behind the times, is about to have a.
handsome house erected in a most suitable locality. A few
first-class hotels will not only be mutually profitable to the
owners, but also beneficial to respectable houses of all gi'ades*.

A jRdurn of the Inhahitants on the Island of Saint John^
tahen in Ajiril^ 1798, bij order of Uia Excellency Gov-
ernor Fanni)ifjy d'c, ttc, £c. : L'y Itohtrt Fox, Deputy
Surveyor.*

Names of the
llcadiS of Families.

Males.

Females. '

■a

No. of Lots
or

TOAVnf>.Hp8.

Under 16 yr»
From Ifi to 60

>
<

S
5

8

c
«

B
2

> i «'2

i eg

•0 IH

Lot No. 34.

Kov. Then. DcsBrisay

O

1

2

12

Xcil & Mnl. Shaw

2

1

1

a

■;, ■ , .'-

John Auld

1

1

3

Siiiuly ]\laishall

1

3

P(;tor Leccli

1

2

7

John ]MeGre<i:gor
Hoht. Aiild

1
1

1
3

1

I

5

10

■ ':■■':]■

Laii. Blown

1

2

12

John Millar

1

1

1

4

Kod. Steele

1

1

4

Corn, lliirjrans

3

3

9

James Curtis

3

4

Wni. Lawson

2

2

1

10

Dnn . Shaw

4

1

8

RonnkI oMeDonakl

3

1

6

Arc'ii. 3[<Donakl

1

1

2

Stephen Bovyei

2

3

11

John 3IcDoiiald

3

1

6

John Brown

1

2

Dan. iJoper

2

1

2

6

Col. Jo. Kobinsou

1

2

1

7

'

John McCormack

3 1

5

Cak'b Sentner

1 1

1

5

Mr. McCanstin

1

2

Geo. Yickersou

2

1

4

8

Old McCormick

1

1

Peter Mattox

1

1

Lot No. 33.

Neil McPhee

2

1

1

4

Allan McDonald

2

1

2

1

6

Angus McLenr

4

1

2

1

8

Don. McKhmin

2

1

2

1

6

Dun. MeCullura

2

1

4

1

8

Jdiiief? Griffgor ':

1

1

2

Peter GrejJTgor

2

1

1

1

2

1

8

Hugh Campbell
Don. M( Farlane

2
3

1
i.

1

1

2
2

1

1

6

8

Saiii. Hyde

1

5 ' 1

* The orthography of this list is strictly according to the original document.

208

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

•

Names of the
Ileadd of Families.

Males.

Females.

.5«

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

T

s

a

1 1

1 "S

In

: "S

8

s

£

i
<

Lot Xo. Sii.

Hobr. I'rqiilinrt

1

2

4

.rohii MeC.iUum

3

1

1

6

Lot No. 24.

Poler (iallon«>'

H

1

4

9

iSlatiii Kyan

5

1

7

Jos. Uarioi)<^

2

2

3

-^

8

Peter Mai tin

4

2

2

1

9

Sapplioii Gallong

2

2

Widow bhasojig

1

1

2

Jo. Peters

2

1

1

5

Widow Martin

1

1

2

Ci)a. Martin

1

1

3

Mieli. Doticette

3 i 1

2

7

James Peters

2

1

2

6

Fran. Claneliard

2

3

Cha. Gal long

■*■

2

Bonang Martin

1

1

.1

3

John Blaiiehard

^j

3

2i

8

Widow (iuthroe

4

1

6

Fabian <jia]long

1

1

]

4

B^ian. Brown

1

3

-,

6

Alex. Dfturong

"

1

1

1

5

Wido\\' Mewes

4

1

4

10

John Diicett

2

4

9

Fran, DiKjett

1

2

Brazil Gallong

2

3

8

Gha. Gallong"

2

4

1

9

John G;.:long

1

2

8

L<Mnan Gallong

1

*>•

4

John Diirong

4

1

1

7

Jos. Durong

2

0

6

Fran. Botiea

3

1

8

Peter (Jooday

2

2

G

John Peter. Jr.

3

1

6

Lewi Gallong

1

3

Joe. Martin

1

3

Charles Golly

1

1

4

Feoman Martin

1

5

8

John Peter, Senr.

1

3

Joe. Penean

3

2

7

Peter Leelair

2

1

5

Lewi lilakair

6

8

Peter Peter

3

1

6

Widow Gallong

2 '

3

CENSUS OF 1798.

209

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Males.

Females.

•

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Under 16 yr»l
From 16 to 00

8

>

o

<

S : S 1

i 1

3

V

>

i
<

•la

Lot No. 2i. John Gootia

2

James Adams

1

2

5

Lot No. 23. Capt. Wm. Whiter

7

John Criaiit

1

Jacob Buskirk

3

4

9

John M(-X<-al

6

2

10

Wm. Shnpson, Senr.

1

1

5

Will. HinipsoM, Jr.

1

3

G

Wm. Chirk

2

-*■

3

7

Lot No. 22.

Tho. Adams

1

A

4

Lot No. 21.

Kobt. AmJerson

3

2

7

David Cole

2

1 1

5

Alex. Anderson

3

-J

2

7

Widow Anderson

I

1

2

Wm. FiekerinfT

(?

1

8

John Adams. Jr.

1

1

1

4

John Adams, Senr.

■*■

1

1

4

.James Murphy

-.

1

3

Wm. Vincent

4

fi

Saml. Barnett

5

2

0

Richard Moortield

2

Kichard Shepherd

I

1

Michael Murphy

1

1

James Cain{)bell

1

4

10

Barthw. Brislar

1

1

4

James Townsheud

3

1

"

8

Lot No. 2rt.

Wm. Marks
John Barefoot
John Crowley

4

^

1

1

G
I
3

James Dunn

6

1

1

9

Daniel Delaney

3

*1

3

A

8

Jolin Cousins

3

2

7

Robert Heathfield

1

3

6

Ben. Warren

2

4

8

James Brander

2

2

6

Jolin Poor

3

5

Geo. Warren

1

1

3

Mrs. Rielev

2

2

5

Lot No. 18.

Archibahl McCoy
John LawhM*

5

1

11
2

John Murchland

2

3

8

Widow Green

1

2

Feter Heron

1

6

5

12

210

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Names of the

Males.

Females.

r

OB

•"3

No. of Lots

m

>>

S

o

i\

8

2

* 3

or

Heads of Families.

s

« i

s

.s

8

S;^

Townships.

I'

>

i

1

i

>

0
J2

II

*-

^^

(« '

<.

^ ' >>, 1

<

E-"

Lot No. 18. Jaiiios McNiitt, Esq. 1

~2"

1 1

4

1 1

^ 1

8

De mis liaftor

2

2

1 1

6

Pat rick Seiinott

1 1

2

Ko laUl Monisoii

2

4

1 i

9

Pet or McDou<raltI

4

3

12

Doufrakl Stewart

1

3

Will. Donald

1

4

James Woodside, Jr.

1

1

4

Arthur Owe. is

2

a i

8

H»i<rh MoKeiulrick

1

1

3

N'eal Ramsay

5

1

9

John Sinclair

1

3

6

Donald JIcDougald

3

5

Baldy Mathews

4

2

7

Doiuild Taylor. Jr.

1

4

7

Chas. Mt'Xeal

5

2

9

Malcom Ramsay

2

4

8

Alex. Boyoe

3

3

8

Alex. McCoy

1

1

5

An«rus Stewart

3

5

Andrew Gray

1

1

4

An«>us McLelaa

4

John McLelan

7

1

10

Anitus (iillis

4

1

7

Royalty of

James Mountain

3

5

Princetowu David Palmer

1

3

Tho. Cochran, Senr.

5

1

3

11

.Tohn VVhealaa

1

1

2

Tho. Sutton

3

2

6

Benj. Warren, Senr.

1

2

2

7

John Henry .

1

1

3

John T'hompson

3

1

1

6

Tho. Cochran, Jr.

2

1

1

5

James Ferguson

3

4

1

9

Jane Allen

2

1

2

C

Keiiith McKenzie

3

1

1

6

Widow MeN"eal

3

2

1

6

Geo. Thompson

1

1

2

5

Widow McCoy

1

3

7

Don. Taylor, Senr.

1

1

1

5

iJohn Mathews

4

2

1

8

John McKenzie

2

3

6

Mai. McKendrick

4

'

" 1

7

<r

CENSUS 0 1798.

211

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of tho
Heads of Families.

Males.

Koyalty of
Princetown

Lot Xo. 19.

Lot No. 19.

Bedeqiie

Bay.

Lot No. 17.

Clias. Stewart, Esq.

John McGouuan

James Woodside, Senr.

Hii<r]i Moiitfjonieiy

James Stewart

Win. Craig:

Danl. Monto^omery, Esq.

Arch. K am say

Wm. Baker

John Ramsay

Edward Ham say

Joseph McLean

Tho. Shnpson

Mai. McXeal

John McPherson

Don. McKenzie

Alex. McKenzie

John McMullan

John McXeal

Penney McDonald

Dav. Downing

Dutjald Steele

Wm. Holmes

James Nowlan

Doodia Russel

John Gallong, Senr.

John Gallon^, Jr.

•lohn Perrie

Joe Gooday, Senr.

Bazil Perrie

Jos. Deroche

Fearman Arsnoe

Prosper Perrie

George Mabey

•John Leforgee

James War?

Jonathan Palmer

Lew^i Arsnoe

Cyprian Arsnoe

Chas. Dncett

Joe Gooday

Yaco Shasong

Peter Arsnoe

-s

8

3

O

S

>

o

.a

<

Females.

•a

S

o

o

S

CO
41

^ 9

< iH

«'2

4

3

3

4

2

4

2

1

5

1

3

3

1

1

2

1

1

4

1

2

1

1

^

3

1

4

1

3

1

2

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

1

2

1
2
1

1
2

1

1

3

1

6

1

2
2

1

1

5

1

2

1

1

1

4

3

5

4

1

2

1

2

4

1

1

1

2

1

5

i

1

1

4

3

1

2

3

2

2

1

2

5

2

3

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

2

2

14
S

10
8
7
5
9
7
4
.5
0
6
5
4
4
8
8
5
r>
2
5
2
4
3

11
6
3
7
7

13
7
6
8
9
7
7
8
4

11
3
5
4
8

212

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

<

OS

la
3 "2

Eh

No. of ZiOts

or
TowDStiips.

Lot No. 17.

Lot No. 16.

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Mules.

e

s

o

u

8

Females.

c

3

o

Widow Gallong
Chas. Rushaw
Cyprian Gallong
Minie Gallong
LarrioMg Bernard
Joe Bernard
Placid Arsnoe
Panl Arsnoe
Alex. Arsnoe
Joseph Rushaw
Peter Perrie
Joseph Arsnoe
John Arsnoe
Joe Arsnoe
Fearman Gallong
Widow Ducett
John B. Gallong
Stephen Arsnoe
Joe Ducett
Stephen Gooday
Peter Hourke
John Babtist St. John
Benjamin Darby
Daniel Green
Babtist Arsnoe
Mai. Ramsay, Esq.
Fran. Gallong
Owen Hickey
John Shassong
Peter Perrie
Gregwar Bernard
Antonie Gallong
Lewi Arsnoe
Peter Bernard
John Arsnoe
Bazile Perrie
John Wedge
Francis Gallong
Widow Arsnoe
Alex. Cameron
Donald Campbell
Hugh McCarter
Angus McGinuis

8

1

1

1

5

1

2

2

6

5

1

2

1

3

o

1

1

3

1

2

1

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

i

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

3

2

1

1

1

1

1

2

3

3

3

2

2

3

2

2

2

3

2

1

1

1

2

2

3

4

2

1

1

1

3

2

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

■*■

4

1

3

5

2

4

1

1

3

1

4

3

1
3

1

5

1

4

4

1

1

1

1

1

5

1

2

4

1

3

X

3

1

3

1
J.

1

1

1

4

1

4

4

1

5

1

1

1

2

1

2

3

2

2

2

3

3

2

2

5

2

2

1

5

1

3

10

14

9

6

8

4

8

5

9

3

9

10

9

5

4

12

5

5

4

5

5

11

12

3

9

6

3

11

7

4

9

9

8

4

10

11

4

4

9

10

9

9

CENSUS OF 1798.

213

♦

Malee

1.

Females.

to

00 —

No. of Lots

B

8

s

8

^ 5

Names of the

►.

o

'•^

o

or

Heads of Families.

<9

V

8

s

8

SfiM

Townships.

"Z

1

0;

«"»

•a

a

1

1

■a

B

i

o§

iJ

u.

<

:j

(h

■<

H

Lot No. IG.

Widow McDcMiald
Don. Forlx's
Archibald Cameron
Allan McLean
John McDonald

2
2
2

1

4
3

1
1
1

1
1

1

4

9
0
4
6

Lot No. 14.

Donald McDinakl
Anjfus McKinniou
John MeLelan
John Gillis
Laug:hlin Mclntyre
Alex. McCaiter

1

2
3
4
3

1

1
2

1

1

1
1
1
1
1
1

1

4
5

6
6

6
6

Mmdock Campbell

1

2

4

1

8

Donald Gillis

2

2

2

2

8

Tho. En«rlish

1

1

1

1

4

Patrick Kochfort

2

2

1

5

Michael Mcintosh

2

1

3

6

Lot No. 13.

Georg'e Blood

2

2

1

2

7

Rodk. Gillis

2

2

1

1

G

Widow Kamsay

2

4

1

2

•9

Georofe Penman

1

3

1

2

7

Don«^ald Campbell

1

1

1

3

Donald Murphy

1

1

2

Wm. Hunter

1

1

1

3

John Rauisay

2

1

1

4

Lot No. 11.

Geortjfe Linklater

3

1

1

Ji

James Smith

4

1

3

2

10

Lot No. 6.

George Hardey

5

1

4

1

11

Lot No. 5.

John Murray

3

1

1

1

0

John Brownyoung

3

2

3

1

9

.Tacob Vi^o

3

1

1

1

G

Hugh Ross

1

1

2

4

Alexander McKinnion

2

1

2

1

6

Tho. Dnflfee

2

1

2

1

G

Michael McNamara

1

1

2

Lot No. 25.

An<rus McDonald

1

1

2

1

5

Ronald McDonald

1

1

3

1

6

-

Samuel liix

2

1

1

4

William Wright

2

1

1

2

2

8

Jessie Strang

2

1

1

1

5

John Murray

1

1

2

3

1

8

David Murray

3

2

2

2

9

Lot No. 26.

William Schu^maa

3

, 4

3

2

12

Peter Schurmah

1

' 1

2

4:

214

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Males.

Feinnles.

r

a
a

*'5

No. of Lots

c

8 < 1

c s

or

Names of the
Ilcadd oi Fumillcs.

>.

2

3 j

S !

S

2
2

8

.23

Townstiipg.

f

S

"^■2

"S

3

i

s

.2

oS

U

_>J.

<

u

p^

■<

H

Lot.:No. 20.

Samuel Chattertoii
John Baker
Major Ho()j)er
Joseph Selliker
Thomas irooi)er, Esq.
William Barrett
Peter Mahue
John Strickland

2
4

1

1

4
2

1

1

3
2

1
2

1
3

1

7
10
4
4
4
4
10
6

Nathaniel Wetherall
Widow Kol>ins
Benjamin Cole

1

1

3

4

4

7
8

* - ,

lilehard Price
Moses Hives
Alexander Anderson
Archibald McCullura

2
2

2

1
1
2
2

5
5
4
6

Lot No. 27.

Daniel Woods
John McDonald
Dennis F!yn

2

2
2

6
4
1

•

John McGinnis
Dou^ald McGinnis
Donald Mclvenzie

1

1
2

3
2

6
5
6

Lot No. 28.

Peter Ruhere

2

2

6

William Clark

1

1

1

5

►'

George Molart
.John Gould
George Stai^man
Tho. Gamble
Dav. McWiUiara
Widow Pollard

2
2
4
4
4

2
4
2

1
3

3

6

8
8
7
8

•

Adam Fnllmou

3

1

1

5

Widow Lard

2

2

5

i

James Hewit

1

2

1

1

6

Lot No. 28.

Morris Quinlan
John Taylor
Josepli Woods
Dav. Penman

1

1

2
1
3
2

4
3
G
5

William Warren

1

2

6

John Lord

2

2

10

Nathaniel W^right

4

7

J(»hn Foy, Esq.

1

3

6

Philip Callbeck

1

2

5

Ebenezer Ward

1

3

3

8

Peter Clj^mer

2

1

1

2

6

CENSUS OF 1798.

215

No. of Lots

or
Towneliips.

Names of the
Iluaild uf Fuiuilioa.

Mulec

1.

Fcmalod.

!

2

s

^

«e

e

s

e

h

1

£

>
i

c

u«

1

Lot No

Lot No

28. !i
30.

Lot No. 32.

Pnul Clymer
flames McDoiif^ald
jJno. McDonald
Lot No. 31. JoliMMoii Basto
Michat'l S'jt'ley
Win. Wilson
Benjamin Nicholson
Lient. John McDonald
Thomas Hyde
John Wilson
Wm. Crosby
Wm. Hyde
Jno. Creamer
Wm. Dockendorff
Wm. Lonji^
Donald McNab
Jacob Hartze
Jer. Myers
Con rod Yonker
Wm. Fisher
Rob. 3l(!Connel
An«i:ns McGinnis
Robert Fox
Peter McMahoii
Ben Wood
John Clark
John McGinnis
Wm. Ilassard
Wm. Jetson
Barney McCrossen
John Bnrho
Wm. Wood, jr.
Wm. W<H>d. senr.
Joseph Smith
John Costin
John Eacharn
Nicks. Jenkins
Geor«j:e Ilayden
James L. Hay den
Kvnolds

Lot No. 65.

Lot No. 49.

Lot No. 50.

1
2
1
1

2
3
2
1
2

Joseph Beers, Esq.
Frederick Fraught
Richard Myers

2

3
1

3
4
1
1
2
3

2
2
1
6
1
3

1
3
3

21

1

0

1

1

1

1 i

4

4

2

1
3

1
3
1

2
')

1

1

1
3
3
1

1

1

3

1

1

2
2

G
2

3
1

1

3

1

6

3

3

3

2

4

3

3

3

2

2

2

3

8
P)

12
7
2
3

10
U
8
8
9
5
3
5
3
7
4
2
3
5
7
5
1
1

15
8
8
9
4

11
2

10
7
6
7

11
3
8
2
6
7
8

216

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWAIU) ISLAND.

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of the
Ilcndb of Families.

Lot No. 64.

Lot :N'o. 63.
Lot No. 61.
Lot No. 59.

Lot No. 54.

Lot No. 55.
Lot No. 56.

Diiv. Young
Jos. Clark
Djiv. Ervin, Esquire
Win. Ervin
Jno. Aitkin
Wni. Keonghan
Duncan M(•^S^vain
Farqiihar Caujpbell
Angus Steele
Dun. Campbell
Alex. McLelan
John McLean
Alex. McLean
John McLean
Don. McCorinick
Angus McCormick
Rod. McDonald
Don. MeDonald
Angus Walker
Hugh Morris
John Carpenter

Lot No. 50. Tho. Pendergast
James Carver
Peter Mnsi(;k
Spencer Crane
Don. McPhee
John Praught
John McDonald
Wni. Young
James Lard
Wni. Laws
John VanNiderstine
John Haley
I' Geo. Coughlln

Wm. Morris
John Moulin
Fred. Shultze
Nickl. Hughes
Win. Shenshabach
Mrs. Forster
. Win. Graham
John Griffin
William Creed

Moles

•

Females.

.1

e

a

8

a

i

8

1

e

s

8 1

S 1
g

\

8

1

<

si

•,i

2

7

4

1

7

3

2

7

2

4

2

3

7
2

1

1

4

4

4

11

1

3

1

7
2

1

\

5

1

2

1

2

1

4
4

1
2

1

3

3

5

4

5

1

4

3

1

6

4

i ^

8

1

1
1

4

1

7
3
4

3

1

3

1

8
2
3

1

1

3

6

3

2

7

2

1

2

1

1

8
2
4

7

2

1
1

1

5

4

4

1
1

7
3

1

3

2
1

1

6
5

1

1

3

3 i 1

1

2

7

1

1 1

1

3

CENSUS OF 17U8.

217

No. of liOts

or
Townbhi\i8.

Names of the
ilcuils of Families.

Malei

.

Females.

t

8

c

8

>,

0

!-.

0

s

«e

8

S

•&

8

b

4^ 1

e

§

1

^

1

I

i

U

b.

-<

U)

u.

-<

Lot No. 5G.

Bou«rhton
Lot No. 60.
Lot No. 43.

Win. Blackett
Win. Hayiie
Joseph Brown
Wni. niiijrwell
\\\v^\\ M<('oiniick
Alex. Steele
Dan. Slilverie
Peter Slilverie
Lewi Ijoniiapee
liCwi Lon^ai)ee, senr.
Jolni Lon^rapee
Bra/ile Sliasoii":
Leiiionjir Shasong
John Shasong
Panl Shasong
Rui^lle Shasong
BabtUt Launderie
Panl Peter
Nanrle Mashell
German Shasong
Joe Peters, senr.
Joe Peters, jr.
Simon Bnrk
John Burk
Ambrose Bnrk
liavla Peter
Peter Shiverie
Joseph Bnrk, senr.
Joseph Bnrk, jr.
Simon Bnrk
James Aitkin
Robert Dingwell
Jolin Hipwell
John McPhee
Dond. MePhee
Neal MePhee
Dond. MeCormick
Mary Sutherland
Rod. McDonald
Laughlln McDonald
Dond. McDonald
Allen McDonald
Hector McDonald

1
2
4
1

4
2

1
5

1
3

i)
1

1
1
1
3
1
1
5
2

1
1
1
6
2

1
1

1
2
1
1
1

1
1

3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1

1
1
2
3

1
1
2

3

1
1
2
2
2

3
1
1

I
1
2
3

2
1

1
1
1
2
2
4
2

2
2

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1

1

I
1

1
1
1
1
3

1
1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2

S

06-3

la
>9 «

a "2
c§
H

'7
1
6
4
7
8
6
8
4
2
5
8
5
2
3
3
2
5
1
11
3
2
5
3
5

10
1
10
4
2
6
1
1
5
5
8
9
2
7
7
8
2
7

218

HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of the
Ileaas of Families.

Males.

Females.

2

S

s

s

>>

o

>,

o

S

o

s

JO

•J

S!

Ill

n
s

1

>

o

■3
S

s

Si

.a

ta-/

b

-<;

\^

u.

<

J5 a

Lot No. 43.

Lot No. 40.

Lot No. 39.

Rod. McDoii«fald
Rod. McIiito.sh A

Don. McDonald
John McDonald
An<ius McDonald
Anofiis McFarrish
Allan McDonald
John McKenzie
John Duke
Cha. Saunders
Wm. Webster
Sainl. Hutchinson
Alex. Dingwell
James Din«>well
Arch. McKenzie
Jacob Taylor
John DiniTwell
Tho. Wri.i,rht, Surv. Gen.
Dond. Peyton
John Moore
Tho. Webster
John McKle
James Mclntire
Don. Mclntire
Dav. Anderson, senr.
Dav. Anderson, jr.
James Anderson
Wm. McKie, Esquire
Robert Banks
An<i:as Mclntire
Rond. McDonald
John McDonald
John McEachran
Widow Fisher
Rod. McDonald
Antjus M<'Farrish
Hu<?h McFarrish
Joseph Dingwell
Angus M(rDonald
Duncan McEvvin
Wm. Robins
Allen McDonald
Allen McDonald

1

3

3

3

2

4

1

1

1

1

3

1

2

1

3

2

2

6

2

2

1

3

2

2

3

1

1

2

1

1

2

2

2

1

1

1

3

3

2

4

3

2

2

3

1

3

1

1

2

1

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

3

-|

2

1

■*-

2

2

4

1

2

1

1

2

1

1

3

1

1

3

1

1

4

4

2

1

1

2

1

2

2

2

1

2

6
8
8
4
8
5
6
6
10
6
4
9
8
6
7
5
1
12
II
4
6
6
5
5
7
2
2
8
5
4
6
5
7
7
5

O

6
3
9
12
3
6
8

CENSUS OF 1798.

219

No, of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Males.

Females.

00

2

8
2

53

8

2

3
2

3

In
V

t3
S

O

0)
>

bi

•9

a

a

>
o

.a

2^

b

'X

<

&

u*

<

H

Xot No. 47.

Xot No. 42.

Lot No. 41.

Lot No. 38.

Allen McKisick
Lau<j:liliii McDonald
Uriah Coffin
Fred Simonds
John Ford & Peebles
John Broh
John Mnrroiigh
Edvvd. Allen
John Campbell
Peter Kose
Antius McDonald
AnjiTus Campbell
John McKiiuiion
Hod. McKinnion
John McDonald
(Little) John McKinnion
Hector McKinnion
An<:us McKisick
Neil McCorniick
John McKinnion
John McDonald
Angus Mclntire
Don. McAdam
Alex. McAdam
Langhlin McAdam
Allen McDongald
John McEaehran
Widow McEaehran
Hugh McEaehran
Hugh McEaehran, senr.
Revd. Auiius 3IcEachran
Angus McDonald
Anh. McPhee
John McPhee
Rod. McDonald
Allen Mclntire
Don. Mclntire
John McEaehran
Dun. McMulleu
Allen Morrison
Ellisha Coffin
Widow Coffin
Kemble Coffin

2

1

2

1

4

1

1

4

3

1

2

5

2

3

1

2

7

3

5

3

3

3

2

2

3

1

2

1

4

1

4

1

4

1
2

1

1

4
2
1
1

2
1

2
1
4
3
3

3
2
1
1
2
4
3
3
3
1
2

2
1
1

1
1
1
1
2
3

1
1
2
1

1
1
1
1
1

1

»)

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1
o

1
1
1

1

2
1
1
1
1

o

8
7
2
4
6
8
a
2
4
12
8
9
6
3
6
9
5
5
9
3
6
8
9
8
7
7
7
7
1
7
3
3
4
3
9
6
7
5
9
3
5

220

HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

No. of Lota

or
Townships,

Lot Xc). 38

Lot No. 37.

•

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Males

•

Females.

•

CO

m

o
S

8 1

o

s
2

S

>

i
<

c

s

S

0

J?
2

3
0

%

<

^ 2

It

Bcnj. Coftin

2

4

Doiid. McMiilleu

1

3

6

John McMnllen

2

1

5

Alex. M.Mnllen

1

1

5

Joseph kSinallwood

3

3

1

9

Neiil McDoniild

2

1

5

Aii«>:ns Cnny

2

3

T

Call Curry

2

2

6

Win. Doii«;las

4

3

12

James Hewick

1

1

4

John Anderson

3

1

6

Angus McPhee

1

5

1

10-

An<ru.s McPhee

2

J_

1

1

ft

Ano^us McDonald

3

1

7

John McDonald

2

1

7"

Cha. McKhmion •

4

a

John McCa-kill

2

1

&

Dond. McCasldll

2

Duncan McGinnis

1

1

2

Gallen McGinnis

1

2

5

John McMnllen

1

6

Widow McGinnis

2

2

7

John McDonald

1

1

4

Antrns McCormick

2

3

9

Alex. McCloud

1

3

Capt. John Stewart

1

2

7

Alex. McKinnion

1

2

G

Allen McKinnion

1

1

1

3

Kond. McDonald

2

1

6

An<ifns McDonald

2

1

5

Murd. McCoj'

1

4

John McDonald

1

2

5

Allen McDonald

3

5

John McDonald

1

1

6

Alex. McDonald

2

5

10

Dond. McDonald

4

4

11

Archd. McDonald

4

3

9

Duncan Gillis

1

4

Alex. McDonald

1

3

6

D( nd. Gi ant

1

1

3

John McKinnion

1

3

Wm. Gillis

1

3

Angus McEachran

2

2

1

1

7

CENSUS OP 1798.

221

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Lot l^o. 36.

Lot No. 37. Doiid. McEachiau
Widow McKJiinion
Ilii^'h Gillis
Widow Frazer
Laurence Barrett
James Flani<j:aii
Joliii MeCormiek
Hiio-Ij McNab
Archd. Mcl*hee
Hii<?h McPhce
Archd. Campbell
Walter Walsh
Wm. Campbell
Saml. Street
Roiid. McDonald
Alexr. Curry
An<j:iis McKenzie
Colin McKenzie
Donald Mcllray
Donald McGraw
Anifus McDonald
Clias. McDojiald
Widow McDonald
John Mcllray
Martin Mclliay
Dond. Gillis
Dun. Gillis
James McDonald
John McDonald
John Stewart
Dond. Morrison
Hugh Walker
Rond. McLean
John McKenzie
Widow McDonald
Capt. John McDonald
John McPhee
Alex. Mcintosh

Lot N"**. 3p. John Mclntyre
John Pringle
James Chaytor
Dond. Mcintosh
Moses Keho

Males.

Females.

to

s

2

1
1

3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
4
2

2
2

1
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
2
1

8

o

1

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

1

1

2

1

2

2

G

2

4

5

3

B

s

4
1
1

3
2

3
3

5
1
2

o
2
2

1
1
1
3

2

1
2
1
1
1
1
3
1

1
1
2
1

3
3
1

1
1
3
1

2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
I
1

1
1
1

2

1
1

1
1

'"IS

n

a

7

10
4
6
3
9
6
2
6
5
3
4
3
8
7
4
6
1

13
G

14
3
5

10
7
5
.5
.5

10
6
6
4
5
4
6
7
5
5
3
5
4
4

222

HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

No. of Lots

or
Townships.

Names of the
Heads of Families.

Males.

Females.

s

s

la

8

>,

o

>*

o

to

1^

s

S

S

S

8

o

s

B
E

1

s

S

s

1

&

fa

<

ij

fa

<

Lot Xo. 35.

Lot No. 48.

Eoyalty of
Ch'towu.

Rod. Mclsaac
John Mcintosh
Edward Elvert
Edvvd. McAdam
Dond. Mcllray
Patk. CuiT>'
John Mclntire
Dond. McKisick
Dond. McDonald
Angus Mcllraj'
Don. McEachran
Don. McDonald
Don. McDonald
Jolni McDonald
James Law.*on
Rond. McDonald
Don. Campbell
John Campbell
Hugh Campbell
Alex. McDonald
Neal McDonald
Muid. McCloud
Wm. Ferguson
Dond. Curry
Alex. Mutch
John Bovyer
Chief-justice Stewart
Angus Curry
Angus McDonald
Kodk. McDonald
Benj. Crossmaii
Patk. Oneal
J. Gellespie
Ben. Grosvenor
Rond. McDonald
John Carrol
Mrs. Hillman
Dav. Ross
Mrs. Cambridge
John Breckea
Colo. Lyons
Widow Smith
Benj. Chappell

2

1
2

1

1

2

4

1

1

1

1

5

2

1

2

1

1

3

1

1

3

1

1

4

3

1

2

3

2

1

1

3

4

2

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

2

3

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

5

1

1

2

1

2

I

1

2

1
2

3

4

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

1

1

1

3

3

2

2

1

1

1

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

3

2

2

2

3

3

2

1

3

1

4

1

2

1

3
2

2
1
2
3
4

1
1

6
4
o
7
8
6
6
6
6
7
8
5
8
4
5
5
6
4
4
4
6
8
6
3
7
2
9
5
5
4
3
6
6
4
6
7
5
o
8
11
13
2
5

CENSUS OF 1798.

223

Males.

Females.

09

£■3

No. of Lots

£

8

O

te

S

o

nr

Names of the

t»»

ha

«i

V/4

Townships.

Heads of Families.

s

s

S

h4

■s

§■

•3

B

%

01

E

O

11

C

s

JS

s

£

^

o S

h3

u.

-<:

t>

Ui

<

H

Royalty ot

David Lauo^hry

1

1 1

1

3

Ch'towu.

Henry W. Perry

2

2

1

1

2

Kob. H()cl<rsoii,'Esqr.

3

1

2

6

Serjr. Deerino-

3

1

2

1

7

John J. Potclier

1

1

1

3

John Hall

2

1

1

1/

4

Kob. Callehan

1

1

2

John Webster, senr.

1

1

1

3

John Coxen

1

1

2

Wni. Townshend, Esqr.

3

2

1

2

8

John Revel

1

1

1

3

Robert JeftVys

1

1

Doctor Patton

1

1

Tho. Alexander

2

1

2

1

X.

Peter Connoly

3

1

3

1

8

John Condon

1

1

2

Alex. Rea

4

2

2

8

Sand. Batfnal

2

3

1

2

8

Alex. A. Rind

1

1

3

1

6

John McKinnion

2

1

2

2

7

Dond. McPhee

2

2

•

4

Joseph Robinson

2

2

2

1

7

Alex. Richardson

3

2

2

7

Widow Clark

2

1

§

3

Ser. McClond

3

1

2

1

7

Ross. Esq.

1

t

1

John Hawkins

2

1

4

1

8

His Ex. Gov. Fanning

4

4

6

4

18

Robert Lee

2

2

1

1

6

Thos. R. Hassard

1

3

1

1

6

John Webster, jr.

3

1

1

1

6

Peter McGowan

3

1

2

1

7

Doctor Nicholson

3

1

1

5

James Don<ilas, Esquire

2

2

4

1

9

John Jones

1

]

2

1

5

John Wright

1

1

■'

2

Anijus McEachrau

3

1

1

1

6

John Lewis

4

1

2

7

Lient. A. Smyth

1

1

1

3

Angus McPhee

3

1

1

1

6

Tho. Geary

1

2

1

4

Andrew Ladner

1

1

2

1

5

Geo. Hopps

1

1

1

1

4

224

HISTORY OP PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

-

Males.

Females.

•

OQ

No. of Lots

£

8

8

S, a

Names of the

>>

o

>>

o

"3 g

or

Heads of Families.

2

S

CO

8

^'M

Townships.

U

r^

V

Of

r^

Si

'3'2

s

2

1

%

1

1

= 1

»

h.

<

u

£

<

H

Poyalt}' of

Xcath McDonnell

1

2

1

5

Chtown.

Doiid. McDonald

1

1

2

5

Lieut. Cha. Stewart

5

2

3

12

Nichs. Counahaii

1

1

1

4

Jos. Aplin, Esqr.

2

2

5

Fran. Lono:worth

1

1

1

4

Robt. Kiley

3

1

5

Sanil. Braddock

1

2

2

6

John Gardner

3

1

1

6

Doctor Gordon

3

2

1

8

Colo. Desbrlsay

2

3

Colo. Gray

4

1

8

Wrn. Burk

3

2

4

10

Dond. Kennedy

2

1

4

Rob. Enimersoa

1

2

5

John Jerome

2

Willm. Amos

2

4

Martin Dwyre

2

4

Peter Stattord

2

James Connoly

3

2

7

Thos. Murray

1

James Ferguson

1

Saml. Byers

1

1

1

4

Total Number of Inhabitants : —

Males under 16 years,
do. from 16 to 60 years,
do. Above 60 do.

Females under 16 years,
do. from 16 to 60 years,
do. Above 60 do.

2335

. 1092

8G7

... 78

2037

Total, 4372

Custom Tailor,

IT-

<:?ind dealer in

50, QUEEN STREET,

iMroBTFR (r..RECT) OP FiXK, WEST OF EXCLIN-D

bLi-KiiFisE, (IN Blue and Black) ' '

SINGLE AND DOUBLE WIDTH CIISSIMEflES,

Very Choice.
SOMETHING NEW IN

WORSTED COATINGS,

Largest Stock of West of England

Scotch and Canadian Tweeds

IN TOWN, TO SELECT PROM.

SO,

QUEEN STREET. CHARLOUETOWN. P. £ /.

THE PLACE TO BUY.

THE CHEIPESTJISEJ T«E TBIDE.

J. D. MAS65^& CO.,

CHARLOTTETOWN,

Have always on band a good assortment of

LADIES' FANCY DRESS GOODS, BLACK SILKS,

COLORED SILKS, IRISH POPLINS,

FRENCH MERINOS,

RIBBONS, of all widths and colors. LADIES' COLLARS,

LADIES' CUFFS, YAK LACE,

MALTESE LACE, CLUNY LACE,
EDGINGS, CAMBRIC EDGINGS,
CA^IBRIC INSERTIONS, HOSIERY, IRISH LINENS.

MOURNING GOODS.

(BEST CRAPE.)

TABLE DAMASKS, TOWELS, CURTAIN DAMASKS,

CURTAIN REP, DIAPERS, FLANNELS,

MUSLINS, WHITE COTTON,

GREY COTTON, SHEETINGS, LININGS,

TABLE COVERS,

FLOOR OIL CLOTHS, MATS, JEANS,

DRILLS, SHIRTINGS, MUSLIN CURTAINS, CARPETS.

LADIES' JACKETS, MANTLES, SACQUES, CAPES,

SHAWLS, and PAISLEY SHAWLS.

LADIES' MILLINERY.

KOIV:neT8 made to order.

Men's & Youths' made Clothing, &c.

J. D. MASON & CO.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL

Ba^gflW^ sjiii ^fafiBtie^g

y!'i9.

TDSI^XilBZ&S X2T

FANCY GOODS,

AND

BLUM BOOK MANUFACTURERS.
44, QUEEIST STREET,

CBASLOTTETOWK, F. E. ISLAKS.

A; A. BALDWIN & CO.,

Importers, Jobbers, and Retailers of

HARDAA^ARE,

CAR KI AGE STOCK, PAINTS & OILS, .

DISSTOFS CIRCnLAR, MILL aD^ fltlier SAWS. .

T1RTII«' STEEE. aucl JF1I.ES,

MILL. STEAMBOAT & RAILROAD SUPPLIES.

FAIRBANK'S SCALES.

QUEEN STREET. GHARLOTTETO WN, P. £ /.

Seaside Hotel,

Formerhj '•Ocean Ilrmse,'

RUSTIGO BEACH, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The above POPULAR WATERING PLACE has been bought
and splendidly relitted and refurnished this season by the
present Proprietors, and now offers unrivaled facilities and
attractions to the

TOURIST, BEALTH and FLSASURE SEESEE, and mmUl

Having beautiful Scenerv. invigorating and bracing atmos-
phere, and splendid Surf bathing.

Best Fishing Ground on Xorth shore for Cod. Mackerel,
Halibut, Salmon, Lobsters, and all kinds of Shell Fish, &c.

Boats to hire at Lowest Paying Rates.

The Bay and Shore abound in Geese, Ducks, Brant, Gulls,
Plover, &c.

JOHN NEWSON & CO.,

Proprietors^

IVm. R. JVA TSON,

mim fe mmil

Importer and Dealer in ■

CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS,
QUEEN (33) STREET, CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. I.

ja<K~»-

Tlie strictest attention paiil to tlie dispensinri^ of Prescriptions
and Family llecipes.

Naval a!ul Domestic Medicine Cliests neatly fitted up, and
furnished with books describin^jr their contents.

HARVE'S BOOKSTORE & GENERAL AGENCY,

62 South Side Queen Square,

CIIA.IlLOTTi:TOM^2<r, J?. 13. I.

iienryTIlvrvie,

AND DEALER IX

SEEDS, TOYS, PICTURES,

FANCY GOODS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, fee.

Commission Merchant, Insurance, Express, & General Agent.

kGENO^ FOR PIANOS and ORGANS, of best makers.

GOOD VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY

TO BE HAD AT THE

BBITISH WAREHOUSE,

On QUEEN SQVABE,

South Side of the Market,

Where UiO public will And one of the LARGEST and MOST GENERAL
STOCKS of BUITISH and FOUElOiN

IN THE TRADE,

COMPRISINO ALL m FAMILY REQUISITES IN THAT LiNE.

These Goods having been purchased on the best and most advantageous
terms, can be sold at the Lowest Kates, and will compaiu favor-
ably with any in the mu ket, either for Quality, Style or Value.

W. & A. BROWN.

PEAKE BROS. & CO.,

'SHIP OWNERS,

And Wholesale dealers in

HIP

COBNZS of aUEEH & WATEB STSEETS,

CHARLOTTETOWN, - - P. E. ISLAND.

>

Wm. D. STEWART,

Gomniiggion ilercknt

AND

AUCTIONEER,

^ Co&ugnainti Solicited, and pronpl relunu made.

< rarticulur attention given to Auction Sales of Fu.-^iture, lical Estate, &c.

l-\ REFEREMCE8:

I Meuchasts Bank, Charlottetown, S. Cunard A Co., Halifax,

V. UR -vES, St. John, K. Jl., Hurrox, Watson & Co., New Yorlc ,

Gbo. C KEARN,2FencnurchSt.,London, Ueuuue H. riNKiiAM, Boston.

"cii iillHICULTURilL INSURANCElor

CAPITAL, - - $1,000,000.

OFnCE-245 St. JAMES STREET, MONTREAL.

President— Col. A. C. DeLOTBINIERE-IIARWOOD, D. A. G.

Vice-President— WILLIAM ANGUS.

Managing Director and Secretary— EDWARD H. GOFF.

Inspector— JAMES II. SMITH.

BRAIVCH OJFriCEIi:

CotoMg, Ont.,— W. T. FISH, Gen'l Agent. Ottawa, Oat.,— M. WHOLEHAN,
Gen'l Agent, aaebec,- T. II. MAHONY, Gen'l Agent. HaUfax, N. S.,— K. G.
TREMAIN, Gen'l Agent.

This Company is organized for the purpose of insuring Farm Property
and Private Residences, and it is the determination of its Directors to con-
fine its operations to this class of business, thus avoiding heavy losse^i
Irom sweeping fires, and hazardous risks.

Farmers and others will consult their own interests by insuring in this
Company. For further information please call on our Agent.

JAMES DESBRISAY,

Charlo ttetown •

BANK OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, |

CiltKAT dKOnCiT. fliTREET,

. CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. I.,

*t r ESTABLISHED 1856. ' '•> :":- X

-'i - ■■;'.' • - - " - . ' ■ fy'

v^^ ; PUESIDKNT— HON. DANIEL BRENAN. { v ; ;;:

ZDIItECTOHS: ' ''^

lion. Joseph Hoiisley, ^ , Richard Ileartz, Esq.,

Hon. Daniel Davies, Hon. \V. W. Lord.

Hon. John Lonj^worth, Hon. T. H. Haviland, • '/

Cashiku— WILLIAM ClINDALL. V^ '

DISCOtTNT DAYS-MONDAY and THURSDAY IN EACH WEEK.

UNION BANK OF PEINCE EDWAED ISLAND,

Incorporated by Ac: of Parliamcat, 18G3.
HE.A-X) o:F:piCE-ci3:-A.i2-iLioa?TETO"W3^. ;,*

DIRECTORS'

CHARLES PALMER, Esq., Pkksidknt, - 'K

HON. THOMA.S \V. DODD, (iEOllGE DAVIE?, ESQR..

W. E. DAWSON, EsQK., JAMES DESRR!-^ AY. EsQU..

JOHN INGS, ESQH , A. L. IIROWN. h mv*"*^ ,i

GEORGE MACLEOD, CASHiKU. -, ,

AGEWTSi:— MONTREAL, Bank of Montreal; HALIFAX, Bank of
Montreal; 8T. JOHN, liank of British North Anicrica; BOSTON, Mer-
chants National BanK, LONDON, ENGLAND, Union Bank of London.

MERCHANTS BANK OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

€IIAltI.0TTEX01V]V, P. E. I.

DIKECTORS :
ROBERT LONGWORTH, Es |., President. "^ ' ' ^

nOX. L. C. OWFN, GKOUr.E U. BEER. Esq..

HON. A. A. MACDOXALD. ALEXANDER BROWN, Esti-,

JOHN F. ROBERTSON, Esq., ARTEMAS LORD, Esq.

W M. M( LEAX, CashiiT. ^. ■ \

A&E1TC7 AT OEOSGETOWIT nndor the management of E. C. McLEOD.

AGENTS :--LONDON. The Citv Bank; NEW YORK, The Bank of New York;
BOSTON, The Boston National Bank; MONTREAL, ST. JOHN and UALIFAX, The
Bank of Montreal.

Collections made on all parts of the Island on the most favorable terms, and returns promptly
remitted.

HICKEY & STEWART,

Manufacturers of

PRIME TOBACCOS,

No. 1 Queen Street, Oharlottetown, P. E. I.

A Choice Stock always on hand, and satisfaction guaranteed.

DODl) & ROGERS,

Wholesale and IJetail dealers in

SJLRDWARE,

Contractors, Builders, ^Meolianios. and Farmers will
find our Stock complete.

Paints, Paint Oil, Maciiinery Oil, Varnislies, Japans & Tnrpentine.

ROOFING FELT AND PITCH,

HoUoiv ware and extra pieces for stoves, i?i every variety^ in
every size and j'rice tJiat cannot fad to please.

Sinister Urates, Karble Maatlei, h^im, 7satilator:, etc, etc,

DODD & ROGERS,

Queen Square, Charlotteton'n, 'P. ^. I.

Tk M ERA Newspaper aiifl Joli Printiiii Office,

CORXEB OF KIM AXD ((lEEX SIREETS, CIIARIOITEIOWX, P. E. I.

The NEW ERA is published every Satukday, ami is sent to siih-
fecribcrs at $1.20 a year, postage prepaul, ^layable in advance. Wlien not
jjaid for iu advance $1.50 a year will be charged.

The NP:\V era has already attained the largest local circulation, and is
steadily increa^nig; and as its columns are not tilled with stereotyped
matter, cuts, nor handbills, it offers one of the very best mediums through
whi(;h niercliants, fanners, mechanics or professional men can advertise
their business.

P. E. BOWERS, Editor & Proprietor.

OPi:¥X€»]lJi OF

From the St. John Daily Tiihune.

The N'kw Era is the name of apcwpar-er
published in Charlottctown, by P. H. BowKKS,
Esq., who is well known in this province
as a gentleman ot ability and sterling eharai-ter ;
and though starting a new paper is a perilous
enterprise, yet with his unflagging industry,
eunsciousiicss of talent, and extensive ex-
p.rlence the Nlw Eua must surely succeed.

From the St. John X. B. Freeman.

«

The Xew Eea presents a very creditable
appearance, and we doubt not that under the
able management of MK. Bo^VEKS, who lias
had much exptrlence in newspaper business,
the new enterprise will be successtul.

THE PRESS.

From the I'arUton, X. B. ScntinfL
Tiri". New Eha in typographical ai;peftrance
is all that could be desired; the selections
are carefully niude. and its editorials are in
Mr. Bowers' usual vigorous style. We wisn
it success.

From the St. Stephen X. B. Journal.
In typographical appearance (he New Era
is all that coulil be dcsir. d; the selections are
made with taste and skill, and the editorial
matter is written in a pleasing and vigorous
style. Success to it.

From the St. Croix Courier.

TriK New Era presents a very respectable
appearance, and from Mu. BbwEBS' ex-
perience and well-known ability it will no
doubt prove a success.

AKCHIBALI) KENNEDY,

HEAD OF QUEEN'S WHARF,

CHARLOTTETOW^N, P. E. I.

IJHPORXER OW

Cordage, Canvas, Cotton Duck, Boltrope,

" CHAINS, ANCHORS,

Wire Rigging, I^aval Stores, Iron , Steely Oakumy

Paints, Oils, Lines, Twines, and Fishing Implements.

WILLIAM KOUGHAN,

iht^ §i|0li^i| and ^t\u\^l ^jg^nt

QUEEN'S WHARF,

CSJLltLOTTETOl/VJsr, JP. E. I.

■ BZFESSITCE-KESSBS. PEASE BSOTEEBS & CO.

CH A RLES FULL

Would inform the public that ho keeps constantly on hand a
Large and Well Selected Stock of

'^"R'W o> O O D SP»

His Motto being— Low Pkices and Quick Sales.

Please give him a call and you wilLfind it to be to your advantage.

REMEMBER THE PLACE-

The three story Brick BaildiDg on (^aeen St., two doors below Mrs. Stmper's.

HYNDMAN BROTHERS,

: CHARLOTTETOWN,

General Dealers^

AND SHIP OW^NERS.

Agents of VICTORIA COAL MIXES,
MONTREAL and ACADIAX S. S. COMPANY,

AND

CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE CO.

P. W. HYNDMAN.

F. W. HYNDMAN.

A. MCNEILL,

NEWS ROOM PROPRIETOR,

Established in 1860.

i

e

F'^iJJllL

fcl

AND

AUCTIONEER,

Exchange Building, JVo. 41 Water Street,
CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. ISLAND.

A. A. MACDONALD & BROS.,

Importers of and dealers in

HARE)^^^ARE,
TEAS, FLOUB, &c., &c.

imunm and FiSHIHG OUTFITS.

Exporters of Grain and all kinds of Produce, Fish, Pork, &c.

Georgetoivn and 3Iontague Bridge^

■' PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

D. GORDON,

.SHIP O^W^IVEI^,

And Importer of

SHIP CHANDLERY,

London Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Bar and Sheet Iron, Zinc,
Lead, Octajron Steel, Shoe and Spring Steel,

STOVES AXD CASTIXGS,

Copper and Yellow Metal Bars and Bolts

WEST INDIA GOODS,

Port, Sherry, & Madeira Wines, Teas, Coffee, Drngs & Spices.

^ WHOLESALJE AND MBTAIL.

McDonald & westaway,

Direct Importers and dealers in

Bpj Goods, (jpoeeries,

SHIP CHANDLERY ANC OUTFITS,
Pure WINES & LIQUORS,

From cheapest markets, always in stock, and sold
without any adulteration.

WATER STREET, GEORGETOWN, P. E. ISLAIiD.
MICHAESLi HESSIOnr,

DIRECT IMPOIITER OF

Dr| Goods, Hats & Caps, Boots & Slioes,

Liquors, Groceries, & Cigars.

EBICK STOBE, E£HT, COBNEB OF BICBUO'^O STBEETS,

GEORGETOWN, P. E. I..,

VULCAN FOUNDRY,

GEORGETOWN, P. E. I.,

JA3IES A. BJJTHEBFOBD,

MANUFACTURER OF

Stoves, Mill Machinery. Ships' Castings, Iron Knees, Trennail

Machines. Steam Boilers for Ship Yards, Agricultural

Implements, &c., Fortfino:, Turning', and all

kinds of Job work.

CASH fOR AliMi KI^OS OF OI.D J:»0:¥.

THE PROPRIETORS OF THE

Beg leave to remind their numerous patrons

Tliat tlieir STOCK OF CLOTHS is nDenoalleil in tiiis town,

Comprisino: as it does over

^OO DIFFKRKMT PIKCEii,

Included in which is every variety of style, make, & finish, embracing
all the Leading Pattekns in Scotch, English and Canadian

TW^EKDS,

Full li7ie and shades in BEAVER, PILOT,
and WHITNEY CLOTHS, as well as a choice
selection of BROAD CLOTHS, DOE SKINS,
<&c., together with all hinds of

Gents' Furnishing Goods,

Found only in first-clas^ iothing Establishments.

A URBE & TA&IED ASSOmSNT OF mD7>ltABS CL0IBI1I6,

Constantly on hand, manufactured on the premises.

All orders promptly and caretnlly attended to, and perfect
fitting garments as heretofore invariably insured.

The above goods will he supplied Wholesale, or Retail ; and
owing to the " stringency hi the money marlcet,'' in order to suit
times, we are determined to sell at such prices as will defy
competition.

Our stock of Cloths having been carefully selected, with due
regard to the various wants and necessities of our numerous
■customers, we guarantee to suit the fancy of the most fastidious.

McKIEENAN & CLAEK,

'Water Street, STxrrtnrteTstcLe, ^. JEJ. X,

EST-A-BUISHEID 1836.

SUMMERSIDE JOURNAL

AND ....,.; .,\

Western pioneer,

Published at Summerside every Thursday,

PRICE $1.20 PER YEAR, ia aiTance.
GRAVES & McMURTRY, Proprietors,

PETER GUNN, Editor.

Having lately imported power presses and new printing
material, it is our intention, with tiiese extended facilities, to
make the Journal a reliable, independent, and readable paper.
Every issue contains articles on Foreign. Provincial and Local
matters, of an interesting nature. With a large and steadily
increasing circidation it offers inducements to advertisers un-
surpassed by any paper in the colony.

In connection with the newspaper oftice is one of the Best
Equipped Job Offices ox the Island.

BOOK, JOB, PLAIN & FAIIC! PRINW

Ezecuted with neatness and despatch,
OlSr REASONABLE TERMS.

J&WEM^E^ FSIMWSMQ BmEiiBIMG^
4^ SUMMERSIDE, P. E. ISLAND.

J. B. MACDONALD,

Wholesale k Retail Importer of British & Forei^m

DRY GOODS,

Clothing, Bats & Caps, Soots & Shoes, Eroceries, &c.;

QUEEN STREET, CHARLOTTETOWN.

MACDONALD & WALKER,

DIRECT IMPORTERS OF

iritis]^ § Jomgn Srs &0trs,

CLOTHIN&/ HARDWARE, GRCCERIEii, &c., &C.

- - - j^ j^. isijA.2>rn.

JOHN M. WAI.KEB.

SO Tims, -

J. B. MACDONALD.

®A©M^©iilBl[ a €#'«,»

m

m
lib

€^^

ITALIAN

Queen Street,
charlottetown, p. e. islaito.

WHOLESALE & RETAxL.